Let’s go to Copenhagen for a concert this weekend! Click, click on the computer, flights booked, round trip. Incredibly cheap. And if we climate compensate, we can also avoid the “flygskam” (shame for flying). Click, click on the computer: Solar energy in India, sounds reasonable. Cost: 49.40 SEK, of which 9.88 in VAT. Incredibly cheap. I even get a diploma to share on social media. Perfect tool for strengthening the personal brand.
Right. It’s incredibly cheap to get away with increasing carbon dioxide into an atmosphere that is already saturated. Subtract the VAT and thus 39.50 goes to the solar project in India. Is it reasonable?
We’ve been completely opposed to climate compensation for several reasons. The main reason is, of course, that it doesn’t lead to any change in behavior; no reduction in our climate footprint. It just allows us to pay a low price and continue as usual with a clear conscience. It’s not reasonable.
So, why are we in doubt all of a sudden?
Things are seldom black or white. We have a customer in the metal cutting industry who operates in a small town in western Sweden. The owner does everything he can to reduce the company’s climate footprint. We have gone through the value chain, identified where they have their greatest impact and he has discussed the issue at length with his most important stakeholders. He has done his homework. He has invested, replaced, chosen new and opted out, but to become completely climate neutral, he would need to replace the municipality’s district heating system, or alternatively become self-sufficient in electricity and heat. Such an investment would ruin his business.
He could climate compensate to become climate neutral. Alternatively, realize that it is not possible to become climate neutral right now.
The owner has done what he can and he will continue to improve and reduce his footprint where possible. In addition, we need to invest in renewable energy, forest plantations and other climate-positive things in this world. That’s why we’re wavering on the issue.
Right now we are reading about everything we can, talking to people and among other things have a meeting next week with a senior lecturer in energy technology at Luleå University of Technology to understand more.
What do you think? Help us think!
