Online calculator tracks air travel carbon footprint anywhere in the world

Posted: 25 June 2008
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The United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, has unveiled a carbon calculation tool on its website that allows travellers to estimate the carbon footprint for any flight they take. A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.

For instance, one passenger, flying economy class from New York 's John F. Kennedy International airport to Los Angeles, a distance of 3,970 kilometres, generates about 0.36 tons of carbon dioxide.

Once a traveller knows how much carbon dioxide is produced for a given flight, he or she can purchase offsets, such as funding renewable energy or planting trees.

Prices for offsets vary widely depending on the projects funded from about $4 per metric ton to $99 per metric ton.

The carbon calculator uses only publicly available and verifiable information to make its calculations about the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from a flight. It takes into account such variables as aircraft type, route data, passenger load and the amount of cargo.

Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez, president of the ICAO Council, said the calculator should benefit both individuals and organizations and will improve as a tool as more technical and operational information becomes available.

The carbon calculator was introduced last week by the Montreal-based ICAO as part of efforts to support the UN Climate Neutral Initiative, which calls for all parts of the UN system to determine their total carbon emissions.

The calculator is being backed by the UN World Tourism Organization.

The International Air Transport Association is also recommending the methodology used in the carbon calculator to its member airlines for use in their carbon-offsetting programs, in part to achieve a more consistent approach to estimating the carbon footprint of flights.

Carbon markets are designed to combat climate change by putting a price on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Companies can trade the right to emit these gases through permits, credits, or allowances.

ICAO's carbon calculator is online at http://www2.icao.int/public/cfmapps/carbonoffset/carbon_calculator.cfm