One of my favorite magazines is Arthur Frommer?s Budget Travel.  In
the latest issue, travelers are given ways earn a place in environmental
heaven by buying carbon offsets to compensate for the CO2 created when
they fly.  The article?s subtitle is, believe it or not,

?Feel guilty about flying? New businesses promise ways to offset your environmental impact. However?.?

To the author?s credit, she warns the buyer to beware. She compares
four websites selling carbon offsets for air travel.  The cost per ton
of CO2 varies from $12 to $22 per ton.  The estimated CO2 produced by a
typical flight from NY to London varies from 2.4 tons to 3.84 tons.

On the other hand, note carefully who the author cites as ?critics.?

Critics point out that offsets fall far short of
solving global warming. ?It?s hard to truly offset your carbon impact,?
says Anja Kollmuss, the lead author of a recent study from the Tufts
Climate Initiative that evaluates carbon-offset companies. ?To really
make a difference, people need to fly less and make lifestyle changes.?

The reporters for these ?trendy?  magazines would not know a critic
if they tripped over one. The article is well worth a read if only for
the laughs.

Cross posted on www.environmentnc.com