Understanding attitudes and barriers towards voluntary carbon emission offsetting among Finnish airline passengers
Kallela, Liisa (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024103127105
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024103127105
Tiivistelmä
Carbon emissions offsetting plays a key role among strategies to reduce global carbon emissions. Offsetting has been identified as one of the leading measures to help achieve net-zero targets, along with the use of SAF, advancements in technology (such as electric aircrafts) and improvements in infrastructure across the aviation industry. According to studies, voluntary carbon emission offsetting uptake remains low, despite wide offerings by multiple airlines.
This research focuses on uncovering the factors that contribute to the low uptake of offsets among Finnish airline passengers. Based on the research results, recommendations are made towards improving offsetting initiatives and uptake, with the broader goal of contributing towards CO2 neutrality within aviation industry. The scope of the study is set to Finnish airline passengers and voluntary offsetting solely as a carbon emissions reduction method, because this theme is uniquely seen as controversial and debated over.
The theoretical concepts that are included in the study are climate change and the greenhouse effect, carbon dioxide emissions reduction and carbon emissions offsetting. Alongside with concepts of consumer behaviour and decision-making, where barriers to action and attitude-behaviour gap are introduced. Previous studies of voluntary offsetting in aviation are presented and the history of debate and greenwashing allegations in Finland are included.
The research method used to gather data is a quantitative online survey, which aims to unfold the underlying attitudes and barriers Finnish airline passengers have towards voluntary offsetting, as well as examine their awareness of the purpose and functioning of offsetting. Additionally, the study seeks to uncover demographical differences throughout the survey. The survey was published in several social media channels and the data was collected in April 2024.
The result of the study suggests that the core factors and barriers preventing higher engagement and affecting Finnish airline passengers’ perceptions and attitudes towards voluntary carbon emission offsetting are individual doubts, scepticism towards the effectiveness of offsets, and practical concerns such as cost. To overcome these barriers, the study suggest that careful consideration is to be placed in clear communication and building trust, where media and environmental originations plays a key role.
This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the obstacles preventing voluntary carbon emission offsetting in aviation sector in Finland. By addressing these challenges, various stakeholders can foster more effective and sustainable practices within the aviation industry. Suggestions for future research include the exploration of cultural differences in pro-environmental behavior, to test incentive structures and the role of trust in offset programs to endorse them.
This research focuses on uncovering the factors that contribute to the low uptake of offsets among Finnish airline passengers. Based on the research results, recommendations are made towards improving offsetting initiatives and uptake, with the broader goal of contributing towards CO2 neutrality within aviation industry. The scope of the study is set to Finnish airline passengers and voluntary offsetting solely as a carbon emissions reduction method, because this theme is uniquely seen as controversial and debated over.
The theoretical concepts that are included in the study are climate change and the greenhouse effect, carbon dioxide emissions reduction and carbon emissions offsetting. Alongside with concepts of consumer behaviour and decision-making, where barriers to action and attitude-behaviour gap are introduced. Previous studies of voluntary offsetting in aviation are presented and the history of debate and greenwashing allegations in Finland are included.
The research method used to gather data is a quantitative online survey, which aims to unfold the underlying attitudes and barriers Finnish airline passengers have towards voluntary offsetting, as well as examine their awareness of the purpose and functioning of offsetting. Additionally, the study seeks to uncover demographical differences throughout the survey. The survey was published in several social media channels and the data was collected in April 2024.
The result of the study suggests that the core factors and barriers preventing higher engagement and affecting Finnish airline passengers’ perceptions and attitudes towards voluntary carbon emission offsetting are individual doubts, scepticism towards the effectiveness of offsets, and practical concerns such as cost. To overcome these barriers, the study suggest that careful consideration is to be placed in clear communication and building trust, where media and environmental originations plays a key role.
This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the obstacles preventing voluntary carbon emission offsetting in aviation sector in Finland. By addressing these challenges, various stakeholders can foster more effective and sustainable practices within the aviation industry. Suggestions for future research include the exploration of cultural differences in pro-environmental behavior, to test incentive structures and the role of trust in offset programs to endorse them.