How useful is a carbon offsetting initiative? An interesting question.

First, anything that raises awareness of CO2 emissions must go into ‘It’s a good thing’ camp. No question about that.

So the programme from Europcar and easyJet to offset all car rental emissions booked over the Christmas holiday period is to be applauded.

This is certainly one area where carbon offsetting can be a useful tool. For travel that is unavoidable – and we all need a holiday, whatever the economic climate – then carbon offsetting has its place.

But I don’t think carbon offsetting is the happy-pill to make all travel better. It’s just one element in a complex matrix of CO2 reducing programmes. Not a passport to travel with CO2 immunity.

The best way to reduce CO2 emissions is travel more efficiently. For business car drivers that must mean choosing a more fuel-efficient car. There’s hardly an excuse these days. There are some amazing cars with fuel economy you would never have dreamed of just a few years back.

The other way to reduce emissions is simply to use alternative sources for business travel: the train; the bus; your feet. Small actions all mount up.

Mind you, BusinessCarManager partner Europcar has been leading the way in reducing emissions.

It’s the first daily rental company to introduce CO2 banding to its car rental. So if you do need to send a staffer off to a meeting using a rental car, you can choose a low CO2 rental car. It’s yet another piece in that complex jigsaw of CO2 reduction.

Finally, congratulations to Europcar. Its environmental work was recognised at the recent World Travel Awards. Europcar was named the World’s Leading Green Transport Solution Company, a newly-launched environmental award.