An exclusive survey released today to GU Environment by the British Market Research Bureau reveals the ignorance of most UK adults about carbon offsetting.

55% of survey respondents had been unaware of carbon offsetting. 66% could not accurately define it.

It was "the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere" said one in five, "a chemical process which neutralizes carbon dioxide gas before it is released into the atmosphere" 19% selected. Carbon offsetting is "new technique that eases trapped wind caused by carbonated/fizzy drinks" responded 2%.

Though there is high-profile support for carbon offsetting from pop groups such as Coldplay yet 51% had never heard of it.

Individuals or companies attempt to compensate to global warming through carbon offsetting. Some processes are planting trees, pumping greenhouse gases underground and setting up green energy projects abroad.

More than 60% of participants did not agree with the statement "changing our lifestyles will make no difference to climate change, we might as well enjoy ourselves".

The survey reveal most people feel concerned and less than a third agreed that "it's the government's job to tackle climate change not mine as an individual".

"The job is to resist all the jargon that is emerging and to communicate in everyday language how and why carbon offsetting works", said Sue Welland from the offsetting company CarbonNeutral.

Among 1,017 people aged 15 and over was surveyed by the BMRB.