Frank McDonald's carbon footprint

maniac101

In last weekend's Irish Times, the environment editor, Frank McDonald, had an article published wherein he calculated that he was responsible for 23 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2007, due to 51 international flights that he took in the year. A curious record, to say the least, for an environmental journalist!

To explain away his behaviour, McDonald used the following excuses in the article:
- Most of the 51 flights were work-related;
- "Only" two return flights were for private purposes, including a flight to Ibiza for a birthday party;
- He doesn't own a car;
- His carbon footprint would have been worse if illness hadn't prevented him from undertaking a private trip to New York.

It appears from the article that he hasn't bothered to offset his emissions, but "will consider" investing in a friend's forestry business in the future. His own confession must surely establish him as one of the worst polluters in Ireland.

Does a environmental journalist's own shameful environmental record undermine his/her credibility and the credibility of the articles that he/she writes?

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/newsfeatures/2008/0105/1199313482058.html

silverharp

seems like a bit of self obsessed naval gazing, it sounds like he wants a bit absolution, say 3 hail Marys and an our Father!

Gekko

It does seem that carbon offsetting are a bit like the indulgences that people used to buy in the hope that they'd get to heaven, but that's not to say they're not worth doing.

I'd be very guilty if I flew almost once every week on average as he did...some of the journeys he took sounded like he could have just said no and done some video conferencing or soemthing instead!

simu

Yeah, that was a weird article. He might have been more critical about how necessary those flights were - it's easy to rationalise.

octo

I think he's setting a good example of the honesty and self-analysis that's required as a first step to limiting our emissions. We all need to have good look at ourselves to see how we pollute personally. It's easy to point the finger at others.

But yes, it does seem rather a lot for an environmental journalist!

lostinsuperfunk

At least he's being honest, but a few of those flights sounded unnecessary to me. Dublin to Glasgow or London can be done by surface transport, and taking two flights instead of one to go to Lisbon because he doesn't like getting up early isn't much of an excuse.

casey212

maniac101 wrote: »

In last weekend's Irish Times, the environment editor, Frank McDonald, had an article published wherein he calculated that he was responsible for 23 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2007, due to 51 international flights that he took in the year. A curious record, to say the least, for an environmental journalist!

To explain away his behaviour, McDonald used the following excuses in the article:
- Most of the 51 flights were work-related;
- "Only" two return flights were for private purposes, including a flight to Ibiza for a birthday party;
- He doesn't own a car;
- His carbon footprint would have been worse if illness hadn't prevented him from undertaking a private trip to New York.

It appears from the article that he hasn't bothered to offset his emissions, but "will consider" investing in a friend's forestry business in the future. His own confession must surely establish him as one of the worst polluters in Ireland.

Does a environmental journalist's own shameful environmental record undermine his/her credibility and the credibility of the articles that he/she writes?

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/newsfeatures/2008/0105/1199313482058.html

I see why you are called Maniac. Why would he want to "offset" his emissions?