How CO₂ Offsetting Can Turn Into a Climate Lie

🌍 CO₂ Offsetting: Climate Action or Just a Feel-Good Fix?

A round-trip flight to the Maldives emits around three tons of CO₂ per person – the equivalent of running a refrigerator for 30 years. Today, many companies offer “CO₂ offsetting” options that allow passengers to “make up” for the damage – for just a few extra euros.

But here’s the catch: the problem isn’t solved. It’s just shifted.

⚠️ Climate Neutral? More Like a Climate Illusion!

More and more products and companies carry labels like “climate neutral,” “CO₂ compensated,” or “climate aware.” But what’s behind them?

🔍 The Reality:

• Many companies buy certificates from questionable sources – e.g., reforestation or wind projects that would have happened anyway.

• They make no changes to their actual production or energy use.

• The label creates the illusion of being “emission-free” – while it’s just a form of indulgence trading.

🛑 The Label Trap:

“Climate neutral” often just means: “We bought certificates, not changed our behavior.”

→ That’s fake climate awareness.

✅ What Is Real Climate Awareness?

True climate awareness means:

• Prevention before compensation – emissions that aren’t created don’t need to be offset.

• Changing core processes – climate-friendly supply chains, renewable energy, durable products.

• Transparent communication – what’s truly reduced, and what’s only symbolically “neutralized.”

🌱 A company is climate-conscious when it:

• Systematically reduces emissions

• Questions and changes consumption

• Uses offsets only as a last resort – not as a marketing trick

✋ CO₂ Offsetting ≠ Climate Protection

German environmental group DUH is suing airlines like Lufthansa for advertising “climate-neutral flights” that ignore major climate factors. Some money even funds projects with questionable impact.

📉 Conclusion:

If you think adding €12 to your ticket saves the climate, you’ve fallen for a clever industry trick.

🧭 What Can YOU Do?

• Question claims: What does “climate neutral” really mean?

• Check certificates: Are they independently verified?

• Adjust your behavior: Fly less, consume more consciously

• Choose credible offsetting programs: e.g., Atmosfair or myclimate, with TÜV-certified projects

🎥 Video Tip

The ZDF documentary “Goodbye Flugscham?” clearly shows how CO₂ offsetting works – and where it fails. watch the video→