Few passengers care or aware of carbon offsetting

The potential benefits of carbon offsetting are being undermined by wide disparities in the way the schemes are operated, according to a new study.

The research into Britain’s £50 million carbon offset industry reveals a number of inconsistencies in the way that carbon impact is measured and offset in the UK.

Dramatic differences in the way the amount of carbon dioxide produced is calculated are exposed as well as the charge demanded from consumers by different schemes.

The cost of offsetting a flight from London Heathrow to Paris Charles de Gaulle varies from 31p to £12.95, while a return from London to Sydney ranges from £9.48 to £643.39, the report shows.

The findings also reveal that while three quarters of air passengers accept that flying contributes to climate change, only 10% were willing to change their behaviour around flying, or to consider purchasing carbon offsetting.

More than half of the 487 passengers at Manchester airport participating in the research did not know offsetting was possible, or did not know how to offset.

Almost eight out of 10 people questioned had previously heard of offsetting but less than half were aware that such schemes could be used to reduce the climate impacts of their flight.

The research also highlights a lack of transparency on how effective the different schemes are in recovering the CO2 generated by flights – with projects funded by consumer charges ranging from planting trees to funding low energy light bulbs in the developing world.

The report, shared by aviation and sustainability experts Omega, shows the lack of cohesion between offset companies threatens to dissuade customers from contributing to cutting their greenhouse gas emissions.

The company says there is an urgent need for a single common carbon calculator, which will harmonise all offset companies and help the consumer better understand carbon offsetting.

Experts predict that the carbon offsetting industry could eventually be worth £18 billion globally, according to the study.

The scientist behind the research, Dr Paul Hooper of Manchester Metropolitan University’s Centre for Air Transport and the Environment, said:  “Given that offset schemes are currently voluntary, much more needs to be done to raise awareness of the existence and benefits of such schemes if we want to see greater uptake by passengers.

“Our study also shows that there is confusion around the existence, purpose and methods of offsetting.

“Standardisation of methods of calculating the CO2 emissions from   particular flights, and of emissions savings made by particular offset schemes is necessary to build the credibility and trust in the offset industry amongst consumers.

“Respondents suggested for example that uptake would increase if benefits were more transparent and better publicised; particularly around meeting UN standards, supporting local projects and initiatives in developing countries.” 

by Phil Davies