Offsets don't always erase carbon footprint

Reuters reports that people may be "fooling themselves" when they offset their air carbon footprint.

Critics of carbon offsetting claim that it is difficult to fully offset ones carbon footprint because different airplanes put out different amounts of carbon dioxide, the global warming greenhouse gas.

"Carbon offsetting has also had to contend with critics who say that it only creates an illusion of fighting climate change, focusing on marginal efforts such as planting trees or building wind turbines rather than tackling the underlying problem, for example by flying less or burning less coal."

A poll about the meaning of carbon offsetting by travel website Expedia found that only one third knew what it meant. One in ten thought carbon offsetting "meant to walk to work instead of driving."

Read the full story: Critics say air travel carbon offsetting too crude