A new app launched at Ausfly last weekend is designed to give GA pilots the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from their flights.
Created by the not-for-profit CarbonBack Foundation, the Apple and Google Android apps enable pilots at any fuel bowser to get a quote to offset all or part of their aircraft or other oil-based vehicle engine fuel purchase. The credits purchased go to fund carbon-offset projects such as planting trees on farms.
CarbonBack heralded the new app by making Australia's first 100% carbon neutral flight from Moorabbin to Narromine for the launch. The SR22 flown by CarbonBack's Darren Heiberg and AvPlan's Evan Schoo and Edgar Olyerhoek used around 139 litres of avgas and produced 303 kg of carbon dioxide.
The emission was entirely offset through the CarbonBack Foundation’s purchase of 100% government-certified carbon credits issued by a Cobar NSW farming community scheme to revegetate kilometres of the barren local riverbank. The credits cost only $7.46 + GST.
“Any assistance be that Australians can provide to urgently support our drought affected farmers and rural communities will be deeply welcomed," Heiberg said. "Support doesn’t always have to be cash handouts. Farmers can be assisted by all Australian’s carbon-offsetting their fuel purchase via the zero commission CarbonBack Foundation App like
they can do when they buy a carbon-offset for a Qantas airfare.
"People can put the carbon in their fuel purchase back into new vegetation carbon-offset funding whenever they fill up their vehicle fuel tanks. It only cost a few gold coins!”
The CarbonBack concept was inspired by the daughters of Heiberg and Melbourne businessman Darren Kelly, who pressured their fathers into doing more for the environment rather than just reducing their own footprints.
CarbonBack hopes to be able to roll out the scheme across several transport sectors and is due to launch on the motorcycle industry at the Australian Moto GP this weekend at Phillip Island.
More information is on the CarbonBack website.