One Australian website will team up with travelers to offset their carbon footprint.  Whereis has announced the new environmental initiative and has provided a link to GreenRoad for the carbon offset.  Whereis will also be working with Greenfleet to offset drivers carbon footprint.

Whereis is an Australian travel site similar to RandMcNally or MapQuest.  You can obtain a map and directions for any trip you plan.  All directions and maps can be printed out for easy reference, and should your plans change mid-trip, you can use your mobile phone to get new directions.

The GreenRoad initiative was started by Whereis to make driving less harmful to the environment. The process works like this: First, you get your directions from Whereis, and then then you follow the provided link to register your trip with GreenRoad. 

Up to 200 km (124.3 miles) of your trip will be offset through the GreenRoad initiative.   The ultimate goal of Whereis is to offset 4.7 tonnes of carbon by planting 17,700 trees.  A pretty ambitious goal for any website, but attainable if each of the 2.8 million travelers who use the site each month will register their road trips with GreenRoad.

Wheris will work with the not-for-profit Greenfleet to plant the trees.   This not-for-profit organization plants native trees in permanent forests to offset carbon emissions.  Greenfleet’s forests are composed of a variety of trees specifically chosen to reduce salinity and soil erosion, and provide essential habitat for native wildlife. 

Since every 17 trees would normally cost $51, Whereis’ commitment to plant over 17,700 trees on behalf of its users will cost approximately $53,091, which is no small sum, but will be a tax deduction for the company.

Greenfleet has been planting trees as carbon offsets since 1997.  Australians interested in offsetting more than 200 km of their driving, can visit the Greenfleet website and make their own tax deductible gift. 

Since many American cities don’t have public transportation and weren’t built to be pedestrian or bicycle friendly, most Americans drive everywhere they go.  The need to get places quick is almost an ingrained instinct.  For that matter, “bigger is better” in homes and cars seems to be a must for many, especially as a show of status.

For those who don’t live in Australia, several organizations exist to provide carbon offsets whether in America and elsewhere.  Many of them can be found at Carbon Offset Review. 

Maybe RandMcNally and MapQuest will choose to join Whereis in providing a way for travelers to ease their consciences.  Then again, with the price of gas, many people are opting out of road trips in favor of staying home and getting to know their own city’s sites and fun.

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Entry was posted on Monday, June 16th, 2008 at 11:42 am under Green Technology.

Read more entries by Susan Wilson.
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