Carbon Offsets Available for the SFO Traveler

San Francisco Airport just rolled out three new Climate Passport kiosks where the common traveler can purchase carbon offsets.

What are carbon offsets, you may be asking. Carbon offsets are like a virtual fund used on projects that undo the environmental impact caused from carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Basically, a carbon offset is measured in metric tons where one carbon offset represents the effort to offset the damage done by one metric ton of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas. They are paid into by a corporation or an individual and the money goes to projects such as wind farms, hydroelectric dams, destruction of landfill methane, or reforestation projects.

It is very common for larger corporations and governments to fund into carbon offsets in order to comply with their carbon dioxide emission caps, but the new trend is carbon offsets sold in the individual voluntary market. People who would like to make up for their carbon footprint can, therefore, purchase carbon offsets and SFO is on the forefront of this market with their new Climate Passport kiosks. They are the first major airport where the common traveler can purchase carbon offsets.

Do you want some? Go to SFO and enter your flight information at one of the three kiosks and let the machine calculate the pounds of carbon dioxide for which you are responsible. Then purchase your carbon offsets at $13.50 per ton. To put this into perspective for you—a round-trip from SFO to New York’s JFK, for instance, will cost $23.42, cheaper than most airport parking in San Francisco. Your money will then go to a reforestation project in Mendocino County and to a bio-diesel fueling project in San Francisco.

These kiosks are a very convenient way to contribute to the environment for all the damage we have created. Who knows, maybe in the future, we will see these at all the major airports across the country. Until then, remember them next time your have a stopover at SFO.