What role for offsetting aviation greenhouse gas emissions in a deep-cut carbon world?

Carbon offsetting is an integral element of the sector's strategy. Already, airlines offer voluntary carbon offsetting to those customers who wish to mitigate the impact of their travel. To ensure carbon offsetting can make a meaningful and credible contribution, this paper discusses the science and policy behind 'carbonoffsetting', and provides empirical evidence of current airline practices in relation to offsetting mechanisms and communication. It proposes five principles of best practice for carbon offsetting that airlines can use as a basis to develop credible emissions strategies, and that could inform the sectoral framework currently being developed by leading aviation organisations.