Gap years. Bright young things jet-setting off to far-flung locations to serve as temporary eco-warriors and save the planet, simultaneously blasting the ozone with harmful C02 emissions courtesy of the very flights and 4x4s often required to transport them to their destinations.

Such has been the uncomfortable disparity facing students wishing to do good abroad, while keeping their green credentials in check. In recent years, the dilemma has led to several gap year companies and websites issuing advice on how individuals can lower their personal carbon footprint in order to offset the damaging effects caused by numerous flights of a few thousand miles. Now one company, Trekforce, has gone further than many firms, by taking proper note of the quandary facing would-be gappers, and pledging to do something about it.

Starting from this July, all conservation missions by Trekforce will be carbon neutral, with the organisation promising to undertake sufficient eco-friendly activity to offset the damage caused by harmful emissions.

In calculating the extent of environmental damage caused by gap-goers, the company will take into account flights made, the pollution emitted by passenger vehicles and even the exhaust of the tractors used to haul volunteers and equipment into rainforests to carry out projects. Working with the World Land Trust, the final figures will be converted into planting a sufficient number of trees in Ecuador to offset the impact.

John Burton, Chief Executive of World Land Trust said: “Despite the link between aviation and climate change, it is important to be realistic about travel. The important thing is for people to travel responsibly and that means offsetting flights."

The company's actions testify to the growing conundrum facing the globally-minded gapper. But while most are eco-conscious and starkly aware of the problems associated with global warming, many appear to unintentionally overlook the likely harm of travelling across oceans and continents by air in order to help preserve the Costa Rican rainforest or Thai sea turtles.

It’s something that can escape the most well-intentioned gapper. Lydia Ross, a student at the Sorbonne in Paris says: “The environment is something I think about, but I wouldn’t have thought about the impact of a [gap year company.] The environmental impact factors in when I think about where I get my food and my electricity, but I just don’t think about it when it comes to these sorts of things.”

While the efforts by companies such as Trekforce are generally considered laudable, some students aren’t quite convinced that having a carbon neutral gap year on offer will make a difference to them. Jaime MacConville, a first year at UCL, says: “Most people go on gap years for selfish reasons. It’s usually for their CV; they make friends with people [like them] not local people. It’s an extended holiday, that stuff won’t matter to some.”

The matter is clearly something of a minefield for the next generation, with a survey carried out last year revealing complex and conflicting attitudes towards green living. In a study of almost 55,000 17 to 21-year-olds, almost all those questioned (91 per cent) said they expected the effects of climate change to be felt by 2031, largely for the worse, while more than half perceived themselves as more concerned about the environment than their parents' generation.

However, very few (just 4 per cent) said they had decided not to take a flight because of green concerns, with 67 per cent saying they would not give up flying for environmental reasons in the next ten years. Interestingly though, almost half (46 per cent) said environmental considerations were significant when deciding what organisation to work for - a factor which could spell good news for gap year companies and corporate firms alike willing to make the extra effort to raise their eco credentials.

Rob Murray-John, Director of Trekforce, says: “There are times when there is no choice but to fly in order to carry out the worthwhile work Trekforce and its volunteers do, deep into some of the most remote parts of the world. Our aim is to leave behind sustainable projects which benefit the area long term.

"By employing local guides; buying local food and sourcing wood for the project from local farmers or already fallen trees and by pledging to make their expeditions carbon neutral, we will make sure that we are doing everything possible to travel responsibly and increase the positive effect the expeditions are having on the environment."

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