Ask Eartha: How can I take care of the planet if I travel frequently?

Dear Eartha, I am concerned about climate change, but I also love to travel. Should I give up flying to protect the planet?

Fligskam is a newly coined Swedish word for “flight shaming” and is a movement that started appearing in Europe a few years ago.. People concerned about climate change have decided to reduce the amount they fly – or stop flying altogether – and have shamed others into following suit. But using decarbonisation as a carbon reduction strategy is a controversial method.. Choosing not to fly is a deeply personal decision that may not apply to everyone. Moreover, traveling to new places has well-known psychological benefits. And many of us live far away from our families, which makes it a moral dilemma. So, let’s start by looking at the big picture.

Aviation and climate change

Transportation is the largest source of carbon pollution in the United States, and aviation accounts for about 10% of transportation emissions.. For context, nearly 60% of transportation emissions come from light duty vehicles and trucks. – So electric cars and trucks are really the low-hanging fruit here. And while many of us drive, not everyone contributes equally to emissions across the country — or the ocean.

Recently, many celebrities have come under scrutiny for their excessive use of private jets. The top offender is Taylor Swift’s jet, which has made 170 flights since January.. That’s a lot of carbon, and certainly more than most of us fly.

In fact, the results of a study on flight experiences in 2017 It turns out that for the average American, flying isn’t a significant part of our carbon footprint. Instead, only 12% of the US population take 70% of all flights. For Americans who fly five or fewer times each year, aviation accounts for only 3 percent of their carbon footprint, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation.

Traveling with ease

Now, that doesn’t mean we all have to fly more. For one, 15 metric tons per yearAmericans’ per capita carbon emissions are only 4.5 tons higher than the global average.. That’s amazing.

So, if you’re one of those people who take more than six trips a year, you could be doing us all a favor by intentionally traveling less. For the rest of us, there are ways to minimize the impact of our limited travel.. We can fly economy – cramming more people into a smaller space is a great way to maximize fuel use. We can choose to fly with companies that focus on fuel efficiency; We can fly direct as often as possible; When we travel, we can use public transport. I could go on..

It’s a fascinating dive into the future of sustainable aviation. Many major players including the US Department of EnergyNASAAviation industry groups and large airlines They are researching and investing in developing plant-based jet fuels.. Just last December, United flew the world’s first passenger flight powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel..

Head in the clouds

As a climate activist, it’s hard to understate my love of overseas travel (and croissants), knowing that the climate crisis is real and — peace — a crisis.. In fact, when I was hiking in the Alps this month, the unprecedented heat in Europe made many popular mountains closed, making classic climbing routes too dangerous..

Renowned climate scientist Michael E. Mann from Pennsylvania State University said that if we rely solely on individual lifestyles, we will never solve the climate crisis.. That doesn’t mean your individual step isn’t important – it is! How we use energy, who we vote for, what we eat, what we buy, the car we drive — everything matters. And these choices must be coupled with systemic change – weaning society off fossil fuels, which means everyone’s carbon footprint is low, whether they care about climate change or not.

So what should we do? Well, I’ll take my trip, use public transportation whenever I’m there, enjoy the locally produced wine and cheese, offset the emissions from my flight, and work for system change when I get back.

Ask Eartha Steward is written by the Center for High Country Conservation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation. Submit questions to info@highcountryconservation.org.