Offers Customers Option Of Offsetting CO2 Emissions

It's the latest "in" thing for European airlines. It's called going "carbon neutral," and environmental advocates say its one way carriers can work to offset the pollutants their airliners spew into the atmosphere. On Wednesday, Scandanavian Airline SAS said it will offer a way for passengers to offset greenhouse gas emissions on their flights, by investing in renewable energy sources.

"Global warming is the most serious environmental challenge we face," Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference, according to Reuters. "I encourage all airlines... to do the same."

Ola Strand, the head of the Norwegian unit of SAS, admits one airline beat them to the punch. British Airways has already introduced a similar program, and European lawmakers have spoken at length of similar 'emissions trading' schemes.

Under the SAS deal, passengers buying tickets through the airline's website have the option of investing in wind power projects in India, China, and New Zealand... ostensibly to compensate for their share of CO2 emissions burned by the jet they'll be traveling on.

Depending on the length of the trip, the optional charge adds about $10 to the ticket price.

Some environmental groups say such programs do very little to help the environment... statements Stoltenberg downplayed.

"I don't believe in a climate policy that says it's wrong to move, it's wrong to travel on holiday and that people should sit at home," he said. "I believe that people have a lot of joy from travel but at the same time we should do it in an environmentally friendly way."

Stoltenberg said his government will also offset all emissions from official flights for 2007.

No word yet if British Mediterranean Airways will follow suit...

FMI: www.flysas.com