Carbon Offsets?
 

I got an e-mail from the Sierra Club announcing their partnership with NativeEnergy Travel Offsets. I did a search here on Fodor's to see if people are doing this, and found a thread from a year ago where people seemed to indicate that they are not purchasing these offsets. I was wondering if this still holds true a year later, or if people are starting to buy them? It sounded like a good idea to me until I read the other thread... We're making a transatlantic flight in June, and, well, it certainly couldn't hurt to donate to these NativeEnergy people.

Donate if you think your money will be well spent. Personally, I would spend my charitable/501(c)3/etc. money elsewhere, but it's your choice.

How would you know the appropriate amount to donate for the other charity? I like how the NativeEnergy site calculates it for you.

When you buy a BA ticket from the website, one of the options is now "Offset the carbon for this flight".

While I suspect it is merely a conscience salve, the charities are listed and appear UN approved.

<i>it certainly couldn't hurt to donate to these NativeEnergy people.</i>

Well, it might not hurt, but will the money do as much good as it would if sent somewhere else? I mean, if you already support the Sierra Club, which charity do you think will do more for the environment? If the answer is NativeEnergy, then shouldn't you shift all of your donations to them? Or, if you prefer the Sierra Club, why not increase your donation to them? I'm just not certain that splitting one's charity among similar organizations is the optimal choice.

Then again, I am pretty skeptical of this whole carbon offset push - it seems like an attempt to buy a clear conscience, while not actually changing behavior one considers destructive.

Carbon offsets are the perfect accessory for your next guilt trip! Why worry about penance when you can buy indulgences? And best of all, we calcultate EXACTLY what you OWE, which you can then pay directly to US! No muss, no fuss! You're square with the universe and all it takes is your credit card and few clicks of your mouse! We handle everything with Mother Nature for you and keep you out of environmental purgatory, GUARANTEED! ((A))

So I guess I agree with those who say that charitable contributions and lifestyle choices relating to the environment are probably best made independently of any individual choice to travel at any particular point in time.