US Airports Making It Easy for Flyers to Offset Carbon Footprints

By participating in programs such as “Good Traveler,” airports are increasingly helping passengers to diminish their flight-related contributions to global warming.

Last year, San Diego International Airport (SAN) became among the first commercial airports to allow passengers to conveniently purchase carbon offset credits at locations in the airside terminals. Now, SAN is reporting that more than 11 million miles of air travel have been offset in the past year and other airports across the US are taking notice and offering similar opportunities for the flying public.

The scheme is simple: Passengers purchase credits which promise that the carbon footprint created by their air travel will be offset by another group or individuals’ promised actions that will not contribute to or even help to assuage environmental damage in exchange. Currently, there is no way to travel by air without contributing at least in small part to the damage caused by burning fossil fuels. Programs like the Good Traveler carbon offsetting scheme promise to allow flyers to help address some of that damage.

“The Good Traveler is a key component of San Diego International Airport’s sustainability strategy,” SAN Director of Environmental Affairs Brendan Reed said in a statement celebrating the program’s success.“With every mile we offset, we’re making a tangible contribution to the fight against climate change.”

Passengers are able to purchase Good Traveler offset credits online or at airport outlets including coffee shops, either before or after travel. According to Good Traveler, a $2 credit will offset approximately 1,000 air miles of travel. Passengers can choose whether the contribution funds a US-based wind farm, a Colorado forestry project, the Delta Restoration Project or is applied to offsets that reduce emissions from deforestation in South America or Africa.

Other US Airports including Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) are now following SAN’s lead.

“Visitors and citizens of the Seattle region care deeply about the environment and we’re responding with our own commitment to reduce the Port’s carbon emissions by 50 percent,” Port of Seattle Commissioner Stephanie Bowman said of joining forces with Good Traveler. “The Good Traveler program is a perfect complement to these programs. Passengers can be personally involved in reducing their carbon footprint through an easy-to-use, intuitive offsetting program designed specifically for air travelers.”

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