The real cost of flying.

The article discusses the author's experience with purchasing carbon offsets for flights and raises concerns about the effectiveness and transparency of the carbon offsetting industry. The author questions whether the money paid for offsets actually compensates for their emissions and highlights issues with the voluntary carbon market, such as lack of regulation and consumer protection. The article also mentions problems with permanence and additionality in carbon offset projects, as well as the small scale of offsetting compared to global carbon emissions. The author concludes that while offsetting can play a role in achieving net zero emissions, serious reform and oversight are needed. [Extracted from the article]