Back when I was freelancing as a video editor, I worked on a few campaigns for what I will refer to as Big Oil. (I know, I know, it's a hideous thought, right? That's why I fled advertising for travel writing.) In any case, the words "carbon footprint" frequently brought blank stares during their man-on-the-street interviews. Just two years later, carbon footprint and carbon emissions are in mainstream vernacular and effect just about every aspect of our life. I recently read that the show 24 was going 'green' and would practice minimal impact business. My filmmaker friend came back from a festival circuit complaining the venue was teeming with green films. And if you don't recycle, you might as well be burned at the stake.

So it's no wonder the concept of green travel has sprung up across the globe promoting environmentally conscious accommodations, activities, and advice on leaving minimal impact while on vacation. And I'm personally all for reducing pollution and changing societal lifestyle. After all, if we can live our day to day lives without mucking up our planet, why shouldn't we?

But one thing I find curious is the purchase of carbon offsets in relation to travel. Many sites, including Al Gore's, provide carbon calculators, lifestyle calculators, and travel calculators to chart your trip from city to city and find out just how much carbon you're contributing. After your calculations are complete, there's an area that lets you know how much you should donate to offset those emissions. Those donations go to projects funding wind power, methane projects, and other sources of renewable energy.

Okay. So I support making donations to better our environment and to raise awareness on just how much we really are polluting to maintain a travel lifestyle. But I think it's dangerous to offer people some kind of nice and neat "solution" allowing people to sweep the issue under the rug. Can we really still travel as we please and not make a serious impact? And what evidence is there that these carbon offsets will truly make their own impact? If everyone contributed to these carbon offsets, would the problem of pollution and global warming ever resolve itself? Or are we just further ignoring this complex problem by putting a feel good band-aid on it all?

I suppose no one has the answer and in about 10 years carbon offsets will either become mainstream thus raising acute awareness and ample funding for renewable energy, or it will be a colossal failure and an embarrassment to the next generation who comes up with a better way to clean up the planet than to calculate emissions.

While it's true many corporations and organizations, including Al Gore's, have gotten some heat in the media for abusing offsets, Native Energy is one company I'm going to keep my eye on. A privately held company by Native Americans, this organization offers the usual calculators, activities, and information on their site. However, their philosophy also draws on the age old wisdom of Native Americans caring for the earth and environment. I also admire their specific community goals and desire to give back to farming culture, all while tending to their tribal needs. This is a project that I admire and support on levels that go beyond the question of what to do about carbon emissions. Be mindful that we've entered an age of environmental competition allowing us the freedom to pick and choose where we put our time and money. So if you're going to get behind an organization that's trying to change the world, take a close look at the values being practiced and make sure they match your ownm intentions.

Regardless of how you feel about global warming, pollution, our environment, or carbon offsets; just remember to be responsible travelers and global citizens.