GRAND CANYON BY HELICOPTER: HOW TO OFFSET CO2 EMISSIONS – CIAO VALENTINA
Sustainable travel does not mean giving up, but being aware of our actions and finding remedies. Here’s how to offset CO2 emissions after a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon.
Traveling sustainably does not mean giving up the various activities and experiences that we have during our travels.
Quite the opposite.
Traveling sustainably means being aware that our actions – such as a boat experience in the Norwegian fjords, parachuting in Dubai, or as in this case, a tour to the Grand Canyon by helicopter – have consequences and bring harm to the environment.
It is therefore possible to enjoy a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon without feeling too guilty, by offsetting the CO2 emissions. But how do you do it?
First of all, we keep in mind that every time we take transport – to go to work or to go on vacation – we emit carbon dioxide (CO2).
When choosing to travel responsibly we choose transport that emits lower levels of CO2 (for example, choosing a train trip rather than a plane trip).
As we know, it is not always easy to have an eye on sustainability when traveling. Especially when you have the option of a Grand Canyon helicopter trip!
But how can you repair to the damage just done?
By compensating via carbon offsetting!
But what is carbon offsetting? It means limiting CO2 in the atmosphere through environmental conservation projects.
So, offsetting means we mitigate the carbon dioxide we create, with the help of organisations that transform our “guilt” into actions. These organisations, for example, plant trees on our behave (which as we know absorb carbon dioxide), install solar panels or finance alternative energy sources.
THE GRAND CANYON
An experience you can’t miss! From Las Vegas there are many companies that allow you to experience a trip to the Grand Canyon. I chose Sundance Helicopters after reading many positive reviews. I must say that the reviews were accurate! Professional and nice staff, an easy flight, snacks and champagne on reaching the Grand Canyon. Highly recommended.
Then, to see the Grand Canyon itself, with its shades of red and brown and the long Colorado River at its feet. A dream come true!
Once the trip was over, grateful and enthusiastic about the experience, I asked myself, “And now? How can I make up for the amount of CO2 emitted on this tour? “
The truth is, compensating a helicopter ride is not easy at all.
I expected to find a section on how to compensate for the helicopter ride through the company’s official website, but unfortunately, I have not found anything.
On the internet, there are several websites that allow you to compensate for flights, journeys by car, motorbike and train, but nothing is found on helicopters.
I even called the helicopter company information office, but that didn’t help either.
The truth is, compensating isn’t as easy as it should be.
Knowing that I polluted the environment on a “whim” seems ridiculous to me.
So, what to do?
There are several websites that allow you to donate to organisations that are committed to mitigating CO2 emissions. See Carbon Footprint https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx, Atmosfair.de https://www.atmosfair.de/de/ and the Rete Clima https://www.reteclima.it/
In this specific case I used Atmosfair.de to compensate for my trip.
It is clear that compensating for a helicopter flight is not easy, but this does not mean that we cannot do anything. Be curious, do your research and find the answers you are looking for. They may not be perfect but it is always a step forward.
I hope this information will be easier for everyone to access in the near future. Maybe tour companies should make it possible to compensate our actions directly from their website. It would be a good step forward.
In the meantime, let’s work hard to travel responsibly.
Remember: Live, Travel, Laugh and Repeat
in a responsible way
Also watch the Grand Canyon video on my YouTube channel:
You might be also interested in TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY IN LAS VEGAS: IS IT POSSIBLE?
Read also LAKE TAHOE AS A SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION: SUMMER TOUR.
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