Airlines get an outsized portion of blame for carbon emissions. While global air travel represents perhaps 4% of emissions, half of that is cargo. In response to the criticism airlines are pledging to do better and reduce emissions. Long-term that may be real, but short-term measures are largely greenwashing.
A new report finds that European airlines are misleading customers about carbon offsets. There’s a lot more criticism of airlines and their carbon footprint in Europe than in the United States, though U.S. airlines are jumping on the reduced emissions bandwagon (and want sustainable fuel subsidies from the federal government). In Europe it’s a matter of survival. Already Air France had to commit to reducing domestic flying, in favor of trains, as a condition of pandemic subsidies. And KLM is criticized for short flights as well.
So they offer carbon offsets and claim the opportunity to fly without the guilt, but those carbon credits are “highly suspect.”
Airlines are selling passengers false hope that they can cancel out their flight’s negative impact on the environment, according to a new report. It probed eight of the biggest airlines in Europe and found that many of them funnel money into highly suspect carbon offset projects that might not actually reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
…The report examined easyJet, Ryanair, Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Wizz Air, and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). It found that all but SAS support “low-quality offsetting projects.” And SAS isn’t completely in the clear — the airline just didn’t provide much information on carbon offset credits it purchased.
There two two key things to know about carbon offsets.:
- Carbon offsets frequently don’t offset carbon.
- But that’s ok because almost no airline passengers buy them anyway, 1% – 2% for the cheapest ones.
If people actually bought these Catholic indulgences, and they weren’t doing anything but served as permission for emissions, then the offsets would be counterproductive for the environment. If anyone chose to fly Delta more because of its greenwashing that would mean more net emissions.
Environmental non-profits might own land, which won’t be developed. They sell a promise not to develop the land, and say that reduces carbon compared to clear-cutting a forest, and therefore the credits offset pollution. That’s a best-case scenario – the carbon offsets don’t actually offset anything, they just raise revenue for the seller. But in some cases a promise not to cut down forests, or to plant trees, isn’t actually fulfilled.
The United Airlines investment in direct carbon capture may wind up far more important, and technology solutions to the environment more generally will matter more.
Even U.S. government policy under the Biden administration has gone in this direction, I suspect business investment matters far more but the Inflation Reduction Act was largely about putting dollars into environmental technologies – a political conclusion to the debate over whether technology or de-industrialization is the answer to environmental challenges.
(HT: Paul H)
Who’s going to play Martin Luther in this and nail their theses on the door of the airline?
Maybe it’s just me, but the use of the word “Catholic” here seems rather inflamatory. One could just say “indulgences” and we’d all get what you mean. Or “virtue signaling”, which is what this really is.
Indulgences, yes.
Catholic, no.
Unless that the indulgences are from the Papal See… then carry on.
beyond tacky and offensive, Gary.
Carbon offsets? Here’s a methane offload for you.
Really!? Why use the term “Catholic indulgences” in this article? Very disrespectful.
@ Gary — If you don’t pay up, you will be doomed to eternal life in economy class.
Why posters are complaining about the word Catholic? The Catholic religion sells favors to keep you out of The Bad Place. Has done for hunreds of years. As the new religion is Global Warming – which probably has a wider following – there is no reason it should not do the same.
@Tim – disrespectful..? With carbon offsets you’re basically paying to sin, right?
@Airfarer – the term, used in that manner, is extremely specific and does not apply here.
Words actually mean specific things, and to use them incorrectly is, well… incorrect.
(Note: not catholic, so it’s not really my cross to bear.)
I am not Catholic either but have the respect for others to not carelessly throw meaningful words around.
But then I don’t prostitute myself for a few clicks as Gary has no qualms in doing
“Climate Change”, the one scam on par with the Covid fraud.
I’m so tired of that false religion. Climate Change that is.
Tim Dunn only prostitutes himself for Delta
Gary, I try not to comment on how other religions work because there is a high chance that I will get something wrong through a lack of understanding.
In the Catholic Church, indulgences are not permission to sin, nor do they provide forgiveness for sins.
Rather, an indulgence is a remission of temporal punishment in the afterlife for sins which have been confessed to a priest and forgiven. Forgiveness is always free and available to anyone who repents. Essentially, an indulgence is time off of purgatory for good deeds or actions.
An indulgence is a poor metaphor for carbon offsets as a result.
poor TimmyUnited is ticked that I wrote that United has a crapped out gas guzzling international fleet so s/he jumps into every discussion to attack the messenger instead of admitting that United’s international fleet strategy this decade was as wrong as its clinging to 50 seat regional jets was last decade.
Bob In NH got it.
Gary could have used any number of words to convey his displeasure with carbon offsets but he chose to use religious terms that he doesn’t even understand.
TimmyUnited,
the topic is carbon offsets. Not other users.
Man made global warming is a hoax.
@ Chad
Man made deities that provide folks with the delusion of self entitled indulgence are a hoax, (especially when said indulgence is to protect kiddy fiddlers…)
@ Tim Dunn
“Rather, an indulgence is a remission of temporal punishment in the afterlife for sins which have been confessed to a priest and forgiven”
…which may be why pedophilia is a particular attribute of said religious indulgence…you might like to explain your advocacy to my ex-partner’s brother who was raped by the local priest as a child – of course nobody believed him, not even his family at the time – fast forward a few decades and multiple suicide attempts later…all too common given the apologists in that organisation…you might like to explain why consorting priests get to choose who gets forgiven in the name of fake god?
This is why you should purchase carbon credits from me. You can trust me…I’m not like the other guys.
Mail checks to:
Attn: CHRIS (me/mine)
147 Bullshit Pkwy
Seattle, WA 98103
C_M says:
“Maybe it’s just me, but the use of the word “Catholic” here seems rather inflamatory. One could just say “indulgences” and we’d all get what you mean. Or “virtue signaling”, which is what this really is.”
Oh no, mate, catholic indulgence is absolutely a thing – I went to the Vatican to check it for myself – at lunchtime a huge red carpet was rolled down the steps of the basilica and several stretch limousines lined up – the few hungry cardinals strode down the steps in their robes (incidentally worth many thousand of bucks each, not to mention the bling they carry and wear, also costing many thousands of bucks)..it’s OK, they can afford it , they scoop up the cash from penitent folks in poorer nations…anyway, you had to wonder whether the special of the day at La Pergola or La Terrazza were calling them to feast…(the latter apparently a favourite of Cardinal George Pell (he of the golden taps))…
@ Gary Leff
“…disrespectful..? With carbon offsets you’re basically paying to sin, right?”
…it’s OK, Gary, the church and its cardinals are well entrenched in the topic…
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/may/11/george-pell-met-us-environment-chief-scott-pruitt-to-discuss-climate-change-debate
platy,
glad I am on your mind but the comment you are reply to isn’t from me.
As to your statement about a fake god… it is precisely because good people have different views of life and the afterlife that respecting what others believe is the higher road.
Yes, there have been horrific abuses of children and I am troubled to hear the story you recounted.
If you can figure out a way to end the horrors that have been done on fellow humans since the dawn of time, I think we would all like to hear.
Of course, none of this has anything to do with carbon offsets which some are convinced are more fake than your belief in a higher being.
@ platy,
“glad I am on your mind but the comment you are reply to isn’t from me.”
Yes, my bad on that one….(quotes of quotes and all of that)…;)
“As to your statement about a fake god… it is precisely because good people have different views of life and the afterlife that respecting what others believe is the higher road.”
Yes, I’m more than happy to be a religious apologist (until somebody’s claimed right to religion harms/ hurts others or their belief systems are forced upon others).
“if you can figure out a way to end the horrors that have been done on fellow humans since the dawn of time, I think we would all like to hear.”
The solutions for addressing such are commonly known but disregarded. Clearly a religious institution that protects kiddy fiddlers isn’t part of that solution.
“carbon offsets which some are convinced are more fake than your belief in a higher being.”
Which, ironically, justifies @ Gary’s reference in the first place and epitomises his proclivity to shit stir…there is just so much wrong with Gary’s article (tiresomely dumb from it’s first sentence) that it just ain’t worth the time and effort to correct his BS, especially given the messianic delusions of his commentators…including those who are more sensitive about a religious analogy than a right royally f—ked up environment bequeathed to future generations…;)
Meanwhile, in frequent flyer land….can anyone advise whether I should blow my Bonvoy points on 5 nights at the St Regis Bora Bora (mixed reviews), or Maldives (pricey food and drink), or another property entirely (best kept secret favourites?)?!
Thanks folks…
hey platy,
you still haven’t figure out who you are talking to.
I hope you have come to grips with the reality that all kinds of people abuse other people; while you might like to think that someone that calls themselves religious should be held to a higher standard, it is only because you want to excuse yourself of your behaviour.
If you don’t want to believe in a higher power, that is your choice. Just don’t argue that someone’s clear sin makes a god impossible.
As for climate, if you are really worried about it, start with China and India. in case you missed it, the world shares one atmosphere and the “first world” powers that exempted those two massive countries makes no sense if you (you is collective here, I trust you realize) if you truly believe that climate change is an existential crisis.
I’ll let you figure out which way is straight up and you can try again next week.
🙂
The only religion I see in this is bowing to the environmental cult and it’s papal saint Algore!
“Catholic Indulgences”. Gary must have some strong bigotry/hate against the Catholic Church to make such a comparison. Try the same type of slander with Jews or Islamic beliefs. Your head would be found in the Hudson.
@ Tim Dunn
“you still haven’t figure out who you are talking to.”
Accept my “mea culpa” already offered in my post above or don’t – your choice.
“I hope you have come to grips with the reality that all kinds of people abuse other people”
Not true. Certain personality types do such (typically those on the sociopathy end of the empathy-sociopth spectrum – the latter, demonstrably align with the right wing stable: by way of example, the right wing here in Australia campaigned assiduously in concert with the right wing Murdoch media (News Corp) to undermine national investigations of child sex abuse by religious institutions – clue – it’s a right wing malaise to protect religion from accountability into child abuse).
Those abusive personality types are also emboldened by certain contexts and belief systems and then validated the religiously deluded flock who indirectly adhere to such and refuse to recognise aforesaid abuse.
Extensive enquiries into institutionalised sexual abuse have collated the evidence on such. I can provide references from multiple national enquiries, if you dispute the reality.
Some may deny that evidence at their belief-based convenience. But personally, I have not time for religious twats who protect or excuse abusing children based on their religion.
The same can be said for other rational and science-based positions such as those relating to he environment and pandemics.
“while you might like to think that someone that calls themselves religious should be held to a higher standard, it is only because you want to excuse yourself of your behaviour.’
Not at all. As you accused, you don’t know who you are talking to. For clarity, I expect folk to be held equally legally accountable per the laws of the land and not claim some canonical supremacy to avoid being held to legal account for f–king kids. Basically, the opposite of what you are accusing in a classic case of the abuser claiming to be the abused as their defence.
To be clear, I don’t use religion as a cover and protection to f—ck children.
Nor do I use religion as an excuse to mutilate kid’s genitals, like Gary’s mob…etc…etc.
So, TIm, just what behaviour are you accusing me of that you are claiming that I am seeking a higher standard to justify?!
“If you don’t want to believe in a higher power, that is your choice. Just don’t argue that someone’s clear sin makes a god impossible.”
Nah mate. I don’t subscribe to the concept of “sin” – such is a religious delusion of certain religions.
Regardless of my position – the secular laws of the land determine whether somebody’s behaviour warrants legal intervention as appropriate.
As I clearly stated above – I’ll be a religious apologist (protect your freedoms to subscribe to whatever irrational belief you like) until you mess with somebody else (aka mutilating genitalia like Gary’s mob or telling women how to behave or that they are spiritually unworthy like the papal mob or raping kids).
“As for climate, if you are really worried about it, start with China and India”
Just what does that mean, Tim? I thought that somebody of your intelligence and logical acumen can come up with a better argument.
So you’d be happy for the USA to sit back and do nothing until other countries act. Classic t*RUMP – no f—king leadership.
“In case you missed it, the world shares one atmosphere”
Not me, as somebody who studied environmental science for nearly 10 years in the world’s best universities, but clearly many of the right wing twat commentators herein.
“and the “first world” powers that exempted those two massive countries makes no sense”
Stop making excuses and focus on the real problem, Tim. You are being pathetic with the triviality of your argument. If you want me to respond seriously then make a properly articulated and evidenced argument.
I am really so tired of the anti-science and unintelligent BS on this blog and the idiots that frequent it.
“if you (you is collective here, I trust you realize) if you truly believe that climate change is an existential crisis.”
It’s not a matter of belief, Tim. That’s where you expose your immaturity. That you make such a statement (sadly) validates Gary’s invocation of religion.
“I’ll let you figure out which way is straight up and you can try again next week.”
Seriously? FWIW you’re addressing somebody who has challenged environmental orthodoxy in their research studies.
Are there ANY grown ups on this f—king blog?!
@James N
Jimmy the scammer on par with the Chump Fools
Who really gets the $$$$ for the so called carbon offsets and what is done with it??? sounds like a real climate scam!!!
The past is prologue?
2020’s in America – Leftists denigrate Christian religions, especially Catholicism, to promote their ideologies. Hundreds of churches are defaced and vandalized. Authorities do nothing and promote this behavior.
1930’s in Germany – National Socialists denigrate Judaism, to promote their ideologies. Hundreds of synagogues are defaced and vandalized. Authorities do nothing and promote this behavior.