Flight Carbon Offset Calculator
Calculate CO₂ emissions for any flight and the cost to offset them with verified carbon credits.
How to Use
1. Select your departure city and destination city from the dropdowns 2. Choose one way or return trip 3. Select your cabin class — business and first class have a much larger carbon footprint per seat 4. Enter the number of passengers travelling 5. Click Calculate to see your CO₂ emissions and the cost to offset themNote: Emissions include a radiative forcing multiplier of 1.9× to account for the extra warming effect of aircraft exhaust at high altitude (contrails, NOx). This is the methodology used by most reputable offset calculators.
Formula
CO₂ (kg) = Distance (km) × Cabin Factor (kg/km) × 1.9 (radiative forcing) ÷ 1000 = tonnes
Offset Cost (AUD) = CO₂ (tonnes) × $25/tonne (Gold Standard)Frequently Asked Questions
Does business class use more carbon than economy?
Yes — significantly. A business class seat takes up roughly 4× the floor space of an economy seat, so the carbon allocated per passenger is ~4× higher. Flying business Sydney–London produces around 4 tonnes CO₂ per person vs about 1 tonne in economy. If carbon impact matters to you, economy is by far the better choice.
Are carbon offsets actually worth it?
Quality-certified offsets (Gold Standard, VCS) fund real projects like avoided deforestation and renewable energy in developing nations. They're imperfect but better than doing nothing. The key is to choose verified programs and reduce flying where possible — offset is a last resort, not a licence to fly freely. Australian providers include GreenFleet and Climate Active certified programs.
What are the best carbon offset programs in Australia?
Look for Climate Active certified, Gold Standard, or Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) offsets. Qantas and Virgin offer in-booking offsets, but independent programs like GreenFleet (tree planting in AU), Carbon Neutral (Yarra Yering forest), and South Pole often offer better value and transparency. Expect to pay $20–35 AUD per tonne for quality offsets.
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