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Air New Zealand is one of many in a recent string of airlines offering customers carbon credits to offset emissions from their travel. Other airlines offering customers the option of purchasing carbon credits include Virgin Blue and Qantas.
Carbon offset systems work by allowing airline customers to purchase ‘carbon credits’ which are then used to fund the planting of trees or investing in other environmentally sustainable projects such as wind farms. Carbon credits are usually fairly inexpensive and are based on distance flown. Their purchase is usually added to the price of the airfare paid by the customer.
To see how Virgin Blue’s carbon offest system works click here and watch their Flash animation.
To calculate carbon credits when flying Qantas click here to use their carbon offset calculator.
Read the article in The Age, Business Day on 27 March, 2008 about Air New Zealand’s carbon credits program then consider the following questions.
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Why would a large organisation such as an airline offer customers the ability to purchase carbon credits?
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What other environmental initiatives is Air New Zealand itroducing?
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How much does it cost to puchase carbon credits on a flight from Sydney to Christchurch? Compare this to Qantas by using the Qantas carbon credit calculator in the link above.
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Find out what other large organisations are implementing carbon offset schemes.
