SEAD (Scottish Education and Action for Development)

Too good to be true?

Watch out for companies which claim to be able to ‘offset’ your emissions, for example when you take a flight. These schemes are problematic for several reasons:

• There is a lot of controversy around how many of these schemes are genuinely delivering emissions reductions and many have been proven to be causing negative environmental and social impacts
• Offsetting is often used as a way of absolving ourselves of responsibility for our emissions. Offsetting creates an illusion of climate action, even when emissions are actually continuing to rise. As a result, the offsetting industry props up increasing consumption levels. Have a look at www.carbontradewatch.org for a lot of information about this. Or see the Cheat Neutral film for a spoof about offsetting your adultery by paying a non adulterous person.

Sustainable travel

Instead of relying on an offsetting company to somehow compensate for the emissions you create through travel, it is much better to commit to using the most sustainable travel option available – and to carefully consider the necessity of each journey. Stopping using air travel can be the biggest single emissions reduction you can make as an individual. The very useful website The Man in Seat 61 can help you work out your options for travel from the UK to Europe and beyond without flying.