The article below prompted some thoughts
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/science/earth/18offset.html
The big question facing anyone traveling for a holiday that is "aware", is the carbon footprint of your travel. The argument for carbon offsetting i.e. paying into a fund which then invests in green solutions to limit emissions though promoting or developing green/eco technologies or initiatives as simple as planting trees which then in turn absorb CO2 is fraught with questions of effectiveness and accountability.
The arguments for offsetting are complex and confusing; is offsetting an emotional panacea providing guilt free travel or actually an effective solution for travelers. The answer seems to be somewhere in the middle.
Offsetting a flight will not immediately cancel out your emissions as the technology or incentives you are investing in, are often very long term projects, some 10-20 years away from producing tangible reduction or absorption results. Having said that it can be viewed as investment in a future greener world. But then it may well be too late.
So what do you do.
Firstly the numbers… according to
http://www.jpmorganclimatecare.com/
If you fly as a single person by car from London to Geneva you produce 0.19 to 0.26 tons of carbon depending on the efficiency and age of the aircraft
If you drive a 40mpg diesel car you produce roughly 0.28 tons of carbon.
Four people in the car produce 0.07 per person.
Taking the Train produces 0.07- 0.09 tons per person
So is fairly obvious. If you are travelling alone the train produces less carbon.
Practical advise…..
If you are you are on own and you have time, take the train.
If you have loads of friends, consider filling a well-serviced car
If you are flying, book a flight with a carrier who fly’s new planes with modern engines and who fly full aircraft.
If you feel that offsetting is a good solution for you, use a program verified by the approved by a United Nations certification program for reducing emissions, as Easyjet do.
The biggest point is, be aware and make lifestyle choices
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