Cool Effect harnessed the EPA’s most recently established emission factor data (2018) and approximated flight lengths from credible online sources. In order to estimate the total metric tonnage of greenhouse gas emissions per flight, Cool Effect chose to combine emissions of carbon dioxide (1:1), methane (25:1) and nitrous oxide (298:1) and adjust for the distinct global warming potential of each gas.

Cool Effect then applied these values over three different flight-length categories: Short, Medium and Long Haul. The purposeful inclusion of methane and nitrous oxide distinguishes this Flight Emissions Calculator from other sources, which often include solely carbon dioxide in their calculations.

By selecting a length of flight, the calculator automatically applies the correct equation for emissions in economy class then multiples it by the average price per tonne for the American Airlines portfolio. The system will automatically apply your purchase evenly over all of the projects. When you purchase carbon credits equivalent to your flight emissions, you are offsetting the footprint of your air travel.

Rounded to the nearest 0.01 tonnes, the Cool Effect Flight Emissions Calculator is meant to provide the environmentally-conscious flyer with sound knowledge on which to base each decision to offset. More than 90% of your donation goes to back to the projects.

At the end of the day, the idea is simple: Do what you can to reduce your daily emissions then offset what remains with high-quality, scientifically verified carbon credits.