Flight Emissions Example

A family of four flying from the UK to Spain (a medium-haul flight) would emit roughly 1-2 metric tons of CO₂ per person for a round trip. For simplicity, let's assume the emissions per person are around 1.5 metric tons, resulting in approximately 6 metric tons of CO₂ for the family of four.

Carbon Offset by Trees

A typical tree can absorb around 10 to 40 kilograms (0.01 to 0.04 metric tons) of CO₂ per year, depending on conditions. Over a tree’s lifetime (around 40 years), it can absorb about 1 metric ton of CO₂. Therefore, planting 8 trees (2 trees per person) would, over their full lifespan, absorb about 8 metric tons of CO₂.

Will 8 Trees Offset This Trip?

In theory, 8 trees could absorb the family’s 6 metric tons of CO₂ over several decades, but the offset wouldn’t be immediate. It may take 30-40 years for those trees to fully offset the carbon emissions from a single round-trip flight. Thus, while tree planting helps, it isn't an instant solution.

We believe it is better to do something than nothing.