How Flight Compensation Works with TeamClimate

Flying grows a personal carbon footprint faster than almost anything else you do. If a flight is unavoidable, you can still take responsibility for the emissions it causes. Here's how our flight compensation works.

1. Calculate your flight's emissions

You enter your flight details — route, class, direct or with stopovers — into our calculator. The calculation uses data from the British environmental ministry (DEFRA) and factors in your travel class plus the radiative forcing effect: the additional climate impact caused by emissions released at high altitude, beyond the CO₂ itself.

2. Your contribution funds certified projects

Once your emissions are calculated, your contribution goes toward certified climate protection projects that reduce the equivalent amount of CO₂ elsewhere. These currently include:

• Rainforest protection. Preventing deforestation and preserving carbon stored in standing forest.
• Wind energy. Replacing coal-fired power generation with clean wind power.
• Clean drinking water access. Well restoration that removes the need to boil water over open fires, cutting emissions and firewood use.

All projects carry certification under recognized international standards — United Nations, Verified Carbon Standard and Gold Standard — so the reductions are independently verified rather than self-reported.

3. Legally, it's a purchase, not a donation

Your contribution counts legally as the purchase of emission reduction certificates, not a donation. For every tonne of CO₂ compensated, the project you support issues a certificate. This structure makes us legally accountable for delivering the compensation you paid for.

4. Minimum contribution: €6.50 per flight

A minimum of €6.50 applies per flight compensated. It reflects the cost of funding verified emission reductions rather than a token symbolic amount.

5. Pay your way

Pay via PayPal, direct debit or credit card, whichever works for you.

The bigger picture: reduce first, then offset

Offsetting a flight doesn't erase the emissions it caused. Fly less. Choose the train when it's an option. Book economy class when you do fly. Pick airlines working to cut fuel consumption. Compensation covers what you can't avoid. It doesn't replace avoiding it in the first place.

More than 10,000 flights have been offset through us so far. Each one is a step toward less climate-damaging air travel while the industry works toward real alternatives.

Ready to calculate your own flight's footprint? Open our flight compensation calculator to get started.