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Starting June 25, Singapore Airlines and Scoot customers will now be able to offset their carbon emissions via dedicated microsites.

SIA Cargo customers will also be able to do the same, starting late July 2021.

Voluntary carbon offset programme

The Singapore Airlines (SIA) group has launched a voluntary carbon offset programme.

For the first six months of the launch, offsets that customers purchase will be matched by SIA and Scoot, the press release stated.

"Matching their offsets is our way of encouraging our customers to fly carbon neutral," said Lee Wen Fen, Senior Vice President of Corporate Planning at the Singapore Airlines.

From the fourth quarter of 2021, customers will also be able to use their KrisFlyer miles and HighFlyer points to offset their carbon emissions.

This programme is part of SIA's plan in their commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Where does the money go?

SIA has partnered Tasman Environmental Markets, Asia Pacific’s largest carbon offset provider, to instantly calculate and offset the emissions for their customers.

According to the SIA Group, they have selected "high-quality carbon offset projects" that "have a proven and measurable impact on communities and the environment."

The contributions will go towards the following projects:

• Protecting rainforests in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
• Developing solar power in India
• Providing cleaner and more efficient cookstoves in rural Nepal

How much does it cost?

For a direct SIA return trip between Singapore and London, it costs S$21.86 to offset the 1682kg of CO₂ emitted from the flights.

Between Singapore and Bangkok, it costs S$2.98 to offset 229kg of CO₂ emissions .

The prices are similar for Scoot.

You can calculate and offset your emissions at the following microsites:

• https://carbonoffset.singaporeair.com.sg
• https://carbonoffset.flyscoot.com

Carbon Offsetting

Carbon offsets are a way to pay for your emissions and make your activities carbon neutral, but they don't actually reduce your carbon emissions.

Instead, by investing into and supporting these projects, consumers are preventing the release of more carbon and reduce future emissions in other countries or industries.

Air travel

Data from 2018 suggests that flights contribute to 2.4 per cent of global CO₂ emissions.

However, flying remains to be one of the highest carbon activities for an individual.

Top image via Singapore Airlines/Facebook