Let’s address the elephant in the room: flying. Because when we say “travel isn’t sustainable”, we really mean “flying isn’t sustainable”. And it isn’t. The aviation industry is responsible for around 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions and 20% of the emissions from the tourism industry. The fact is, however, that 80% of aviation emissions come from flights that are over 1,800 km long, and there is no alternative to flying for fast, long distance travel.
Sustainable aviation is a long way off. Biofuels may be a step in the right direction, but they also have their challenges, including but not limited to the vast land use required to grow crops to produce ethanol, the pressures on food security generated by growing so many crops for fuel use, and the immense volumes of water required for the growing process. Most airlines now give you the option to offset your carbon emissions for a small fee when you book your flight, but this is also laden with issues that I will address in another post. Essentially, until aviation is completely electrified and a sustainable battery (a whole other issue!) is charged using 100% renewable energy, flying will not be sustainable.
It goes without saying that you should seek alternative modes of transport before you look at flying. If demand for short flights goes down, airlines will begin to get the message. You might think that your decision won’t make a huge difference, but as with every market, it is flexible and based on supply and demand. Eventually, it may actually make a difference. But this has to come with an improvement in other transport infrastructure. For short trips, train travel is ideal, and buses are another great option. A lot of the time, when you consider time spent in the airport, it can be faster to take a train or a bus. If you are driving a fuel-powered car, try and car-pool to reduce emissions per passenger. Slow travel in these ways can also allow you to see more of the place you’re in, and can even be more flexible, allowing you to stop and take detours.
Some progress has been made in trying to reduce short-haul flights in Europe. Iin April 2022, France banned domestic flights where the route could be travelled instead via train in under 2 and a half hours. The start date is yet to be confirmed, but is expected in 2023. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Austrian government made a similar move. The bailout of Austrian Airlines included a condition that domestic flights should be eliminated when there is an alternative train journey of less than 3 hours between the two locations. This would be especially relevant to the journey between its capital, Vienna, and major city, Salzburg.
Reducing your Flying Footprint
If you have to fly, here are some things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. But I want to first say this: the burden should not be on the individual. The government and large corporations have created a system where we as individuals do not have much control over the environmental impact of our actions. They want to put the blame on us to distract from their inaction. BP actually coined the term 'carbon footprint'. This means that the best thing we can do is show these organisations that we want change, vote in elections, and show them where the demand is. Until these changes take place, read on:
Fly Economy
The first thing we can do is fly economy. Sitting at the back of the bus allows the aircraft to fit more people in, lowering the per capita carbon dioxide emissions of that flight. Is the slight additional comfort of business or first class really worth those extra emissions (and money!)? Help demonstrate a demand for efficient flying! Budget airlines are the best for this, as they offer more economy seats and so have a much lower impact than their more expensive counterparts. Their lower prices also allow more people to be able to travel and experience new places. As I mention in my post on Sustainability Benefits of Travel, this is an aspect of sustainability too. Budget airlines also often have newer planes, for the very reason of increasing fuel efficiency and lowering the costs of fuel and therefore the flight. Flying on more efficient airlines has a clear carbon advantage.
Pack Light
Secondly, pack light! It doesn’t sound like much, but if everyone made an effort, there would be a slight difference. A lighter plane takes less fuel to get off the ground and fly through the air, and less fuel burned equals less carbon emitted. Budget airlines excel in this area: through charging for extra bags and food, they reduce excess weight on board, lowering the carbon footprint of your flight.
Fly Direct
If you can, fly direct rather than opting for connecting flights. This is because the take-off process is the most carbon-intensive of the entire flight. For shorter flights, this impact is even greater, as the emissions from take-off represent a greater proportion of the total flight emissions. A third of the plane’s weight is fuel when it takes off, which means that it takes a lot of energy to get it into the air. Reducing the number of take-offs, especially for short-haul flights, will dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of that flight: direct flights have been found to reduce carbon emissions by 100 kg or more per person relative to an alternative connecting route.
Watch your Waste
Finally, be wary of your waste. If it looks like recycling may not be occurring on your plane, keep your recyclables and take them home if you can. Refuse any plastic bottles of water and snack packets and opt for a reusable bottle instead if this is an option for where you’re travelling. If a meal is served, make sure no food goes to waste, and order the vegetarian meal if there is one - the impact of this can be huge, and it is also often the tastier option.
We all know that flying is often our only option, so where trains, buses, and cars aren’t available, do as much as you can to get your footprint down.
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