CO2 compensation - that's the reason

With an extra charge when traveling, CO2 emissions can be compensated. With CO2 compensation, you support projects and initiatives that protect the climate. Various companies now offer this option.

That is behind the CO2 compensation

Car trips, flights or meat consumption, people emit tons of CO2 every day. On average, every German produces about eleven tons of CO2 a year. They can reduce their footprint and offset these amounts by contributing to climate protection projects. This is behind the CO2 compensation:

• Anything you emit in CO2 can be offset elsewhere by making a donation to climate protection projects.
• Basically, the compensation takes place via emission reduction credits. These are also known as certificates. They compensate for exactly the amount that they caused before.
• It is not an additional climate protection measure. The compensation would not be necessary without a previous issue. That means: balancing is good, but not causing is better.

Overview of providers

There are now many providers of CO2 offsets. Some support projects, others invest in existing initiatives.

• The best-known providers of flights include Climatefair, KlimaKollekte and Atmosfair.
• Atmosfair in particular scores "very good" in the Stiftung Warentest. The platform scores with transparency, consumer friendliness and commitment.
• You can also compensate in other places - for example when traveling by long-distance bus. Some companies add a CO2 compensation surcharge when you buy a ticket.
• This includes FlixBus. At the end of the online booking, the bus company offers the option "climate protection contribution". The CO2 emissions are calculated exactly for each kilometer of your trip and offset in the travel price.

This is how CO2 offsetting works on flights

If you can't do without flying, there is a quick and easy way to compensate for your flights.

1. Go to a provider's website (see above) and log in.
2. Indicate whether you want to offset an entire flight or a certain amount of CO2.
3. A computer determines the climate impact and the respective compensation amount.
4. The amount will be donated to climate protection projects. You can choose between environmental projects, wind power projects and a few others. You can find information about the respective projects on the websites of the providers.

Climate in Germany in the future: How German cities are changing

You can find out more about the ecological balance of air traffic in another practical tip.