Guest Blogger: Katie Repsis. Millennial. Fort Collins, Colorado
Photo: Pexels.com
I bought carbon credits/offsets after our trip to Europe, in September 2019.
A carbon offset or carbon credit is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to compensate for emissions made somewhere else. Credits are traceable, tradeable and finite: When they are purchased by airline passengers, they are retired forever. This revenue funds activities that protect or restore forests, often supporting local communities with alternative livelihood opportunities that keep trees standing, and it helps fund programs to do so in perpetuity.
We flew United and they partner with Conservation International, who is working to save critical forests around the world. By investing in forest offsets, you help to protect forests from being cleared, while supporting critical habitat for threatened species and the communities that care for and depend on forests.
Conservation International is a top-rated charity and has a four star rating from Charity Navigator and an A-rating from Charity Watch. I recommend checking the legitimacy of any charity on these charity watchdog sites.
I know other airlines give you the option of purchasing carbon credits when you buy the tickets. So, if you’re concerned about the environmental impact of flying check into purchasing the credits.