The Greening of Business Travel
Who knew when Kermit the Frog sang those immortal words, "It's not easy bein' green" that every environmentally-related headline would some how mimic Kermie's lament. And with Earth Day fresh on the heels of my Birkenstocks, I would like to reassure our riveting (or is that ribbeting) friend, it's getting easier to be green, at least as an airline traveler.
One weapon in the arsenal of the well-intended traveler is the purchasing of carbon offsets, that is, traveler-supported funding of domestic clean energy projects, such as wind farms, to offset or neutralize carbon emissions generated by airline travel.
And while I applaud the concept, I say don't stop there. Why not develop calorie offsets where you can devour dim sum, and later purchase calorie-offsets from a designated fitness buff willing to do the sit-ups for you while you reap the health benefits and slimmer waistline. (Sorry, I digress.)
Funding carbon offsets is something Expedia® Corporate Travel takes seriously and the company is committed to making its own business travel carbon-neutral by the end of the year. When it comes to our customers, we are also offering the ability to purchase carbon offsets through TerraPass, the leading retailer of greenhouse gas reduction projects in the U.S.
This option is available each time you buy an airline ticket under Traveler Tools: Carbon-Neutral Travel. Company memberships are also available. As an example, pricing starts at $6.99 to offset about 1,102 lbs of CO2, the approximate amount per passenger emitted by a 2,500 mile short haul flight or $15.99 to cover a medium haul up to 5,500 miles.
This may sound like a thinly-veiled infomercial, but that is not my intent. I wanted to share with you an innovative idea and one that's catching on. For the price of a burger and fries (okay and maybe a shake) you can neutralize a half ton of carbon dioxide. It's something to consider.
Learn more about TerraPass and Expedia Corporate Travel's partnership.
Have a question or comment for Tom?
Tom Conway, who has been known to hug a tree or two in his day (but couldn't commit), welcomes your questions or comments.
Comments
This is BS & if you can recall in the 70's its was global cooling.... get over it mother nature have been having these climate changed before man was here... This is just another way to taxes the American consumer
Posted by: Don Carlo | May 1, 2007 1:47 PM
Respectfully I'd have to disagree with Mr. Carlo. The broader issue is not whether the earth is cooler or warmer - everyone knows burning fossil fuels and biomass have added to heat-trapping gasses in the atmosphere - but to what degree these man-made influences impact climate change.
Most if not all of the limited scientific dissent on climate change comes from scientists or thinktanks affiliated with or supported by the petroleum industry.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
In any case this article describes a voluntary fee, not a tax on American consumers.
Posted by: Mark Hoben | May 2, 2007 11:50 AM
Carbon Offsets is another ponzi scheme. They use fear of Global Warming to lead people to pour money into programs that have questionable environmental benefit, and succeed in fattening the wallets of their owners. Doesn't Al Gore own one of these companies? See article below:
Financial Times FT.com
Industry caught in carbon ‘smokescreen’
By Fiona Harvey and Stephen Fidler in London
Published: April 25 2007 22:07 | Last updated: April 25 2007 22:07
Posted by: Steve M. | May 3, 2007 12:36 PM
Steve: I don't see anywhere in this copyrighted article (!) that Al Gore owns any interest in any of the companies mentioned - would you care to provide some substantiation to your claim?
The (poorly written) FT.com article states the reporters found 'widespread instances' but with no quantification or specifics provided, readers are left to draw their own conclusions as to the extent of the alleged problem. It's important to note, though, that the article doesn't support the absolute conclusion you reach - 'Carbon offsets is another Ponzi scheme' (sic).
In this instance, this provider (Terrapass) has some substantiation and third party verification of their claims - more evidence, in fact, than that presented in the FT.com article.
If you don't want a carbon credit, don't buy one, but unsupported claims aren't helpful to the discussion. And post that Al Gore link when you have a chance.
Posted by: Mark Hoben | May 3, 2007 2:23 PM
Somehow, this purchasing of "carbon credits" smacks of the Middle Ages practice of buying "indulgences" from the Pope: Equally ethical, and equally effective!
Posted by: Alice Smith | May 7, 2007 7:42 AM