I predict this is going to become a tough policy debate at research funding bodies and universities: Should flight offsets be covered as eligible expenses by universities/research funding agencies...
Parke makes a very powerful case here for why we SHOULD NOT cover offsets... it comes down to the impact they have in reinforcing our behaviour, rather than changing it...
The most common counterargument (as Parke points out), is "IF we determine we HAVE to fly, isn't it better to OFFSET than not?"
And I admit this counter-logic has its allure...
At the same time, I'm compelled by Parke's reasoning here. And many others (ex. @AndrewTMurphy) have made similar arguments. For me the final analysis at A PERSONAL LEVEL becomes this:
@AndrewTMurphy BUT what about at an INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL? Should offsets be included as eligible expenses - especially for those cases where air travel is deemed 'necessary'?
I think we need to think very carefully about this, and fast.
@AndrewTMurphy And if we DO decide to include offsets, we need to make sure that:
- They don't just serve as a tool of justifying our behaviour/ don't negate the need to think critically about the inescapable limits of air travel in our present era.
Whether that's POSSIBLE... another question!
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