Summer is almost upon us, and often that means we are contemplating trips around the country and perhaps internationally. For most of us on Maui, that means getting on a plane.
Theundeniable truth about flying is that we are contributing to global warming because we are supporting an industry that emits excessive carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air—a major culprit in climate change issues. Research shows that every time we travel about 2,000 miles in an airplane, we contribute to emitting at least a ton of CO2. That means that for every round-trip flight we take to the Mainland, we are responsible for emitting at least two tons of CO2.
Now there are probably a lot of us who try really hard not to fly excessively. Fortunately, for those who need to travel there are excellent mechanisms in place to help you fly “carbon neutral.” The concept is simple. When you are planning a trip—be it a long road-trip or a flight—visit one of the Websites listed in the sidebar and calculate how much CO2 your trip creates. Once you have your emissions figure, you are guided to donate a modest dollar amount to offset your carbon emissions, thus neutralizing your trip. That’s it! A quick, guilt-free way to travel and to take responsibility for global climate change.
Why should you plan a carbon-neutral vacation? Clean Air-Cool Planet in their A Consumer’s Guide to Retail Carbon Offset Providers said, “As the threats posed by global warming become more obvious, not only scientists but also to the general public, the concept of being able to go “carbon neutral” is an attractive one. Carbon neutrality offers individuals, businesses, and other institutions (e.g. universities) the opportunity to take personal responsibility for the global warming implications of their lifestyles.”
In essence, given the reality of environmental conditions today, to be a responsible member of our delicate ecosystem, we need to begin implementing a carbon-neutral lifestyle.
How much does this cost? Various carbon emissions calculators agree that a round-trip between Maui and the West Coast (San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles) estimates two tons of CO2 and suggests around $10 to offset this emission. A round trip visit to New York City emits about four tons of CO2 and an estimated $20 would make this trip carbon neutral. Other ways to offset two tons of CO2 emission include planting two acres of Douglas Fir trees (with 50 years of growth), personally protecting eight acres of tropical rainforest from deforestation, or replacing 1,000 100-watt light bulbs with 18-watt fluorescent lights (10-year life).
I’m not sure about you, but for the same price as a meal I’ll eat on vacation, an online donation sounds much easier than convincing my entire neighborhood to switch their light bulbs.
Where does my money go? Considering how many Websites pop-up when you search carbon neutral, one rightfully needs to do some research before clicking the “pay now” button. The good news is that many of these companies are funding innovative international projects that protect rainforests and introduce more alternative energy systems. For example, offsetting your carbon emissions at www.terrapass.com means that you are contributing to wind-power projects in Minnesota, Nebraska and California. Donating to www.carboncounter.org helps increase energy efficiency projects of paper mills in Oregon. The bottom line for many of these carbon-offsetting initiatives is to use the simplicity of capitalism and direct it to worthy projects.
So how is all this going to impact Maui? The truth of the matter is that every tree that gets planted, regardless of whether it is in the Amazon or in India, affects the health of the entire planet. Every little contribution we make to reducing carbon emissions across the world contributes to the well-being of Maui’s ecosystem. As cliché as it sounds, we are citizens of the world and it is a worthy cause to affect international environmental projects.
At the same time, there are ways for you to be innovative when creating your “carbon neutral summer vacation” program. If you feel strongly about being local in your contributions to offsetting your CO2 emissions, directly support one of the many worthy local environmental organizations. Look for organizations that are planting more trees, working on improving energy efficiency, or are implementing strategies to introduce alternative energy sources to the island.
So in the next few weeks, as you sit at your computer finding the perfect fare for a get-away, consider making it an environmentally friendly experience. Take that extra step to become carbon neutral, and discover how easy it is to be a solution to global climate change.
Subashini Ganesan organizes, researches, writes and implements efforts to create social and environmental change. She lives in Maui and can be reached at subashinig@gmail.com.
Carbon Offset Calculators and Projects
Terrapass www.terrapass.com
Carbon Counter www.carboncounter.org
American Forests www.americanforests.org/resources/ccc/
Clean Air, Cool Planet www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/