The world's first carbon-neutral airline

Readers of this blog may remember that I have previously described how Costa Rica is on pace to be the world's first carbon-neutral nation by 2021. So, it should perhaps not surprise you that Costa Rica already has the world's first carbon-neutral airline.

What is the name of this environmentally-friendly airline? Quite naturally, it is Nature Air. This is a photo of one of their planes at the Tamarindo Airport. Nature Air became carbon-neutral in 2004 by reducing its emissions and offsetting 100% of its emissions with reforestation and other environmental initiatives. It is certified carbon neutral by both Costa Rican and international environmental auditing authorities.

Here is a link to the airline website page that describes its environmental program: http://www.natureair.com/carbonneutral/index.html

Tiny Costa Rica met its goal of planting 7 million new trees last year. It has preserved more than 25% of its land for national parks and nature reserves, more than any other country. But the frogs and butterflies of Monteverde are continuing to migrate to higher elevations because of the effects of global warming elsewhere.

If an airline, government, and people of Costa Rica can make such progress in environmental preservation, then surely other nations, especially the wealthier industrialized countries, can do the same. What to you say, rest of the world?  Will you follow Costa Rica's leadership in showing that we can save our planet?