Climate compensation or how much forest should you pay for your trip?

 

Erste Asset Management shows how much surface area of forest is required in order

to offset a trip of 12,000 km.

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You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs; and you cannot travel far without causing emissions – the

carbon footprint of a trip. Travellers who want to compensate for the damage they are causing have been able to

resort to the concept of carbon offsetting for a number of years now.

 

The recommended compensation can be calculated on numerous websites. Carbon emissions can for example

be calculated and offset on Climate Austria (flights, car rides, and public transportation) or myclimate (flights,

car rides, and cruises). The atmosfair calulator for air travel has received a number of awards. It allows for

hazardous substances other than carbon dioxide in its model. Offsetting donations go to various climate

protection projects.

 

The planting of trees is a particularly demonstrative form of compensation, and it counteracts the damage caused

in two ways: by producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. The German foundation “Stiftung Unternehmen

Wald” estimates that one hectare (i.e. 10,000 sq.m.) of forest absorbes some 13 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

Younger forests have decidedly less storage capacity.