Time Magazine reports that carbon emissions from jet travel are uniquely polluting, as the carbon that jets emit at high levels appears to have a greater warming effect than the same amount of carbon released on the ground. Unfortunately, there also isn't much that can be done to improve fuel efficiency in jets and it's likely that the technology won't change for decades. Although right now airline contribution to greenhouse gases is just 1.6%, the annual number of airline passengers is increasing rapidly and will double by 2025.
One of my favorite round-trip flights, New York to Tokyo, a trip I've taken twice and hope to take many times more, emits 5,200 pounds of carbon per passenger. What's an environment-loving eastcoast American Japanophile to do?
me (left) and Lynn at Naruko Onsen, Japan
It's possible to pay for carbon offsets, services which either reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon absorption in another area. The most commonly known service is tree planting. This offset creates a mental image of restoring natural forests, but critics say it can actually include planting trees in tree farms meant for logging, or in places where the effect is negligible. Other types of offsets include funding renewable energy.
I'm not sure how I feel about offsets. The cynical side of me thinks it's just a way for citizens of industrialized societies to assuage our guilt while we continue our high-consumption ways of life. But next time I fly to Japan I'd rather give carbon offsetting a try than do nothing at all.
Added 2/12: Ru Hartwell from treeflights.com left a comment on this post with a link to the Treeflights web site. This small company in Wales which plants trees for air travelers takes a long (and realistic) view about tree planting as a carbon offset. The FAQ page of the site is well worth reading for a clear overview of the tree planting process and the issues involved.