This article was originally published by The Intrepid Foundation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Whatever you think about carbon offsetting (and you might not think much at all, right now) it\u2019s definitely having a moment.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n Tour companies like World Expeditions and Bamboo Travel <\/span>have recently announced<\/span><\/a> they\u2019re going carbon neutral. Gabriela Hearst became the first brand to run a <\/span>carbon-neutral fashion show<\/span><\/a> at New York Fashion Week \u2013 with <\/span>Burberry<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Gucci<\/span><\/a> hot on their sustainable, 4-inch heels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Airlines like <\/span>EasyJet<\/span><\/a> have also joined the carbon neutral party, which is a good thing, considering air travel is by far the most energy-intensive activity on the planet \u2013 carbon dioxide from airlines jumped 32 per cent from 2013 to 2018, with plane-related CO<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a0emissions now sitting around 918m tonnes each year. The travel industry does a lot of good in the world, but it\u2019s also responsible for about <\/span>eight per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions<\/span><\/a>. In fact, we\u2019re on track for 6.5 gigatons of travel-related carbon dioxide by 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n There are two questions that always get asked about carbon offsetting. The first: what <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> it? And the second, which is equally important but much harder to answer: does it actually <\/span>work<\/span><\/i>?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n RELATED: WHY WE\u2019RE BECOMING CLIMATE POSITIVE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Liam Neal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Carbon offsetting is simply a way for individuals and companies to invest in environmental projects that balance out their carbon footprint (the amount of carbon dioxide they directly or indirectly release into the atmosphere). Every time you turn on a lightbulb, drive a car, <\/span>stream Netflix<\/span><\/a> or catch an international flight, your carbon footprint grows a little bigger. That includes your unavoidable emissions too: the ones that no matter how \u2018green\u2019 you go, you have simply by virtue of living in the world as it is. And it\u2019s the same for companies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n By investing in projects that actively reduce CO<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a0emissions, so the theory goes, you can shrink your net impact on the environment. And because greenhouse gases affect the world as a whole (<\/span>although some places are affected way more than others<\/span><\/a>), it doesn\u2019t really matter <\/span>where<\/span><\/i> the offset comes from \u2013 reduction anywhere will have an impact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Most offset projects are based in developing countries. They usually take the form of reforestation (planting lots and lots of trees), investment in renewable energy, or buying carbon credits through an <\/span>emission trading scheme<\/span><\/a> (a complicated market system that, basically, encourages sustainability by making it more profitable for companies). The price of offsets varies, but on average, for every tonne of carbon dioxide you produce, it <\/span>costs upwards of $10 USD<\/span><\/a> to even the scales.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n RELATED: HOW TO CHOOSE A RESPONSIBLE TOUR OPERATOR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Damien Raggatt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Intrepid Travel has been a fully <\/span>carbon neutral company since 2010<\/span><\/a> (in fact, we\u2019re aiming to be the <\/span>world\u2019s first \u2018climate positive\u2019 travel company<\/span><\/a> by 2020). Every year, we measure our annual greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory \u2013 in accordance with the global GHG Protocol \u2013 then offset our trips and offices using a <\/span>bunch of renewable programs<\/span><\/a>. As a company, Intrepid prioritises projects that have social and economic benefits for communities on top of the obvious environmental ones. As of December 2018, we\u2019ve offset more than 310,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This is a good start, but it\u2019s not the whole story. The travel industry (along with the fashion and power industries) are some of the worst offenders when it comes to carbon emissions. For a long time, we\u2019ve been part of the problem. That\u2019s why we\u2019re joining forces with <\/span>Ecologi<\/span><\/a>, an online subscription service that plants trees and partners with climate projects all over the world. It\u2019s like Netflix for climate action.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019re launching a partnership with <\/span>Ecologi<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(and our not-for-profit, <\/span>The Intrepid Foundation<\/span><\/a>) to make it easy for travellers to offset more than just their adventures. Subscriptions cost less than $1.75 USD per week. You can read more about the project <\/span>over here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE INTREPID FOUNDATION HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s almost impossible to find an article on carbon offsetting without this question lurking in the background. There\u2019s a few reasons why.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Carbon offsetting has come under fire from writers like George Monbiot for being more absolution than solution: Monbiot compared offsets with <\/span>paying the church to absolve your sins<\/span><\/a>, arguing that people and companies will carry on polluting, smug in the knowledge they\u2019ve \u2018bought off\u2019 their guilt. This has pretty much been debunked over the years. Many offset schemes report that their customers take extra measures to reduce their emissions directly \u2013 eating less meat, travelling less, using renewable bulbs and so on. The British National Consumer Council and Sustainable Development Commission has also pointed out that \u201ca positive approach to offsetting could have public resonance well beyond CO<\/span>2<\/span>, and would help build awareness of the need for other measures.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n This is the big thing. The <\/span>other measures<\/span><\/i>. Carbon offsetting your travel (with companies like <\/span>Ecologi<\/span><\/a>) is fantastic, but it\u2019s only one way you can help reduce your carbon footprint. There are <\/span>plenty of others<\/span><\/a>. In some ways, critics like Monbiot have a point: offsetting does reduce our damage, but in a perfect world, these schemes wouldn\u2019t need to exist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Photo by Mark Daffey.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n This is a really important question. Unfortunately, there have been examples of carbon offset programs which were poorly run, or simply misrepresented their effectiveness. Technically, offset schemes are only legit if they can prove they are <\/span>additional<\/span><\/i><\/a> to any carbon savings that would have happened anyway. So (for example) if an offset program distributes low energy lightbulbs in developing countries, it has to prove that people wouldn\u2019t (or couldn\u2019t) have gotten those bulbs by some other means.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This is really hard to do, which is why lots of offset schemes now guarantee their emission savings \u2013 so even if a project falls through, the provider promises to make up the difference elsewhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One thing you can look for is the <\/span>Gold Standard<\/span><\/a>. If an offset scheme has been certified by Gold Standard (an environmental integrity body established by <\/span>WWF<\/span><\/a> and other NGOS back in 2003) you can be sure it\u2019s been properly vetted and meets the highest levels of sustainability. And yes, all of Intrepid and Ecologi\u2019s offset projects have been certified by Gold Standard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n RELATED: HOW TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF YOUR TRAVELS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Well, for starters, vote with your wallet. Only fly with airlines that <\/span>offer carbon offsets<\/span><\/a>, and only travel with tour companies that offset their tours. Keep your money clean in banks or <\/span>superannuation funds<\/span><\/a> that don\u2019t invest in fossil fuels. Next, have a look at Ecologi<\/a><\/span>, read up on the issues, and think about subscribing \u2013 <\/span>for every tree you help plant, Intrepid will plant one to match.<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-Turkey_Goreme_Cappadocia_July2019-1985.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhat is carbon offsetting?<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"Kayaks](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-vietnam_halong-bay_049A7990.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHow does Intrepid come in?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
Does it really work?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-MONGOLIA_JARGALANT-KHAIRKHAN_TSAGAAN-KHAD-TOURST-CAMP-GER_\u00a9-Mark-Daffey.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHow do we know the projects are legitimate?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
How can I get involved?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n