Spike in offsetting flight emissions with German non-profit atmosfair

Berlin-based carbon-offsetting non-profit organisation atmosfair has increased its revenues by more than 40 percent in 2018, as more and more flight passengers use its services to balance greenhouse gas emissions, reports Annette Kögel in an article in the Tagesspiegel. “With record heat in summer 2018, there was a clear rise, as climate change had become palpable, rather than just an abstract construct," said Julia Zhu, spokesperson for atmosfair. However, the total share of passengers offsetting the emissions is clearly below one percent, writes Tagesspiegel. The German non-profit atmosfair contributes to CO₂ mitigation by promoting, developing and financing renewable energies in over 15 countries worldwide with voluntary payments by airline passengers. 

Global direct aviation emissions account for more than 2 percent of global emissions, roughly equivalent to the total greenhouse gas output of Germany. By 2020, global aviation emissions are projected to be about 70 percent higher than in 2005 and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) forecasts that the sector's greenhouse gas output could grow by a further 300-700 percent by 2050, leading to political debate over banning airborne transportation under certain circumstances. Many projects are exploring possibilities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in aviation. German Lilium and the “Silent Air Taxi” by German e-car pioneer Günther Schuh are some of several different concepts for establishing e-aircrafts as a means of short-distance transportation in Germany. Among the best known is also Volocopter, which operates in a way similar to unmanned toy drones.