When kerosene is burned, carbon dioxide is produced, which, as a greenhouse gas, contributes directly to the warming of the Earth's atmosphere. However, pure CO2 emissions are not the only relevant factor when flying. Aircraft leave other emissions in the atmosphere that have an impact on the climate, primarily particles, water vapor, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides. These add up to what are known as non-CO2 effects, which depend on a variety of atmospheric chemistry processes. Overall, non-CO2 effects double or triple the climate impact.

The RFI (Radiative Forcing Index) factor takes into account that the greenhouse effect is particularly strong at high altitudes. The extent to which this factor is included in a compensation calculation, for example, can vary greatly from provider to provider. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change considers a factor of 2.7 to be reasonable, but it is usually set lower. Reputable providers of CO2 offsetting specify this factor.

If you want to offset the CO2 emissions for a trip, you can donate money to a climate project provider. Since vacation trips in your own car also cause a considerable amount of CO2 emissions, these can of course also be offset. To offset emissions, you first need to calculate how much greenhouse gases were produced. You can do this directly on the provider's website or using the CO2 calculator provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Once you know the value, you can purchase emission reduction credits, known as certificates. A certificate represents the reduction in greenhouse gases in the respective climate protection project.

Some package tour providers already offer the option of CO2 compensation. This can then be booked as an additional service with the trip. You can find out whether your tour operator offers this option on their website, at a travel agency, or on the website of the compensation provider.

There is a wide range of different providers of CO2 offsetting. Some support energy efficiency projects worldwide and even participate in project development, while others focus on reforestation. In addition, there are also providers who buy certificates directly and then resell them. It is worth checking the provider's website beforehand to find out exactly which method is used, as this determines the quality of the offsetting. In 2018, Stiftung Warentest took a close look at various providers. You can download the test report from the link below.

To help consumers make better choices, there are various seals of approval that provide information about the quality of the compensation. One trustworthy seal is the Gold Standard. This seal of approval was developed in 2003 by the WWF and other environmental associations and certifies climate protection projects in developing countries. Projects certified with this seal meet high standards. Not only is CO2 saved, but it also contributes to sustainable development locally.

As mentioned above, the Canary Islands are a popular holiday destination. The distance from Frankfurt Mainz to Las Palmas is approximately 3,100 km as the crow flies, meaning that a return flight covers around 6,200 km. Since the compensation providers apply very different factors, the CO2 emissions stated for these flight kilometers vary between 1100 kg CO2 (myclimate) and 1870 kg CO2 (Klima-Kollekte). Accordingly, the compensation amount also varies significantly, ranging from €26.00 (myclimate) to €43.00 (Klima-Kollekte). Since the providers also have different approaches to CO2 compensation, it is worth taking a closer look at the homepage of the respective provider.

No matter what type of vacation you prefer, it is always worth thinking about the climate impact beforehand. If you do decide to fly, good CO2 compensation helps to mitigate the impact on our climate.