Offsetting family emissions

In 2020 the family took the opportunity of a visit of some American family to the UK to hold a climate emergency assembly at which we all pledged to reduce our personal emissions to zero by 2030 and contribute to nature recovery. Since then there have been a number of further transatlantic flights without any declarations of offsetting through any of the organisations set up to mitigate the carbon emissions. This could add between £40 and £100 per person to the cost of a flight depending on who you trust to invest in the 'additional' planting of trees or installing solar panels etc In 2025 another transatlantic visit is being arranged for 2026 that would seem to conflict with the original pledge to reduce emissions and bring into question the whole purpose of the family assembly. The scale of emissions that are outside the scope of individual or family behaviour change (about which there should be campaigning and lobbying) increases the importance of reducing emissions for which individuals and families are responsible. This is felt most acutely by younger people and the growing billions living in vulnerable places where the impacts of climate change are inevitable, and for those committed in private capacities and/or at work to accelerate the transition to low/zero carbon or one planet living.

In order to maintain a semblance of family unity as members experience different levels of difficulty in honouring the original pledge and transition to one planet living, contributions have been made that relate more to more to salving conscience than to the offsetting of carbon emissions. The £2000 donated to Sumatran Orangutan Society, Possible and Tree Aid has been made up to £4000 by the Big GIve. Does this reduce the climate emergency? Not much. Does it avoid or delay family fragmentation? Possibly.