I've voluntarily paid for carbon offsets for every flight I've taken since 2018 or so (it's a checkbox on the airline site I use most), and the added cost to me is really minimal.
And yes, I do realize carbon offsets are sort-of a scam, but willingness to pay for them is sort-of a signal as well, and it's the best one can do, I guess? I also realize that commercial passenger aviation is not a significant polluter, percentage-wise, and that the industry already has incentives to improve their carbon footprint (simply by reducing fuel demand), which it has been readily taking advantage of as soon as it was feasible (737-NG is very much a thing, as are similar Airbus upgrades).
But still, 'polluter pays' is a sound concept. The global (water-based) shipping fleet would do good to take notice...
And yes, I do realize carbon offsets are sort-of a scam, but willingness to pay for them is sort-of a signal as well, and it's the best one can do, I guess? I also realize that commercial passenger aviation is not a significant polluter, percentage-wise, and that the industry already has incentives to improve their carbon footprint (simply by reducing fuel demand), which it has been readily taking advantage of as soon as it was feasible (737-NG is very much a thing, as are similar Airbus upgrades).
But still, 'polluter pays' is a sound concept. The global (water-based) shipping fleet would do good to take notice...