Carbon Offsets?

I am not. Easily researched, though, and there are many companies that will accept your money. Some purport to target specific types of offset programs all over the world. Do you have such a company that you would trust or recommend?

I know. BA offers the chance to pay for carbon offsets for your trip at the time of booking, perhaps your airline of choice does too?

I would not trust any of that when sold by an airline. A carbon offset seems to me to be buying some sort of penance for taking a flight you are taking anyway. Maybe better to not fly at all. So don’t pat yourself on the back.
Isn’t there some sort of buy sell market for these that are bought by those that emit carbon to offset that fact that they are adding to the problem.

The only way to be truly green is not to fly.

Ya, but my walking is awfully slow. The bike does better.

I’ll add to Jennifer’s post….

And no longer drive a has guzzling vehicle.

Then again If you own an electric car I ask where and how will those batteries be recycled.

1) Don't fly private like celebrities.
2) Don't drive a gas-guzzling automobile or pickup truck. I agree that battery recycling is a concern and the electric grid does not have enough capacity right now to support lots of EVs. I personally think hybrids, like my Prius, are the best option right now.
3) Put solar panels on your roof if you live in a place where the sun shines most of the time.
4) And the good thing is that many places in Europe or much more walkable than places in many parts of the US.

It’s all relative as the affluent RS member says don’t fly private; I say don’t fly Business; my ex says dont fly premium economy (long story); the financially marginal citizen says don’t fly; the impoverished college student says travel virtually.

Don’t drive a gas guzzler (please define); drive a hybrid (do you know the human suffering those batteries are creating); drive a EV (see hybrid); move to a city where a car is not necessary (but I like where I live and that trumps the environment).

My future travel will be virtual on a second hand solar powered lap top; or maybe I will marry a foreign national that walked to the U.S. and have her/him/them tell me stories in the dark?

If your carbon offset plants a tree for my grandchildren to enjoy then you left the world a better place; and I thank you for that.

3) Put solar panels on your roof if you live in a place where the sun shines most of the time.

Or even if you live in a place where it doesn't. We have solar panels on our roof in Duluth, MN and have an average monthly electric bill of around $30 (that's for a large house with 7 people, including a special needs child on oxygen who uses a LOT of electricity). We get large credits in the summer and pay during the winter but it works out well.

Thank you all for your input. Travels these days are all about educating my son, who will inherit this ravaged planet. We're hoping to equip him with some of what he'll need, for the challenges ahead. I recently read some of Kim Stanley Robinson's work. It got me thinking of the systems, changes and realizations hopefully coming. I know nothing yet about buying carbon offsets for travel, but in the web of trade-offs toward helping more than harming, it seems like something to consider. In addition to everything else we can do... Thanks again.