German carbon-offsetting nonprofit organisations report rising demand

German carbon offsetting nonprofit organisations atmosfair and Arktik are reporting rising demand in the wake of the Fridays for Future protest movement, according to a report by newswire dpa carried in an article by Focus Online. Berlin-based Atmosfair said the purchase of compensations to offset travel emissions this year has already topped last year's total of 9.75 million euros. "We clearly feel the impact of the Fridays for Future movement," a spokesperson told dpa. Hamburg-based Arktik also reported a slight increase in demand from individuals who wanted to offset trips by car or plane. "The increase started in the hot summer of 2018 and has remained relatively stable ever since," a spokesperson said.  

Atmosfair and Arktik contribute to CO₂ mitigation by financing renewable energy projects with voluntary payments from airline passengers and other travelers. According to most experts, offsetting flight emissions can contribute to the fight against climate change, but offsetting alone will not solve aviation's emissions problem. A number of factors make it particularly difficult to reduce emissions in aviation, including the sector’s strong growth rates and severe climate effects unrelated to direct CO2 emissions, like those caused by condensation trails. In spite of the increasing awareness of aviation's impact on the climate, the number of flights taking off from Germany's airports has increased in the first half 2019.