THINK BEFORE YOU FLY

Did you know?

• Since the 1960s, airline passenger traffic worldwide has risen by almost 9% a year.
• Airfares are about 42% cheaper now than they were 10 years ago.
• Air travel emits 700 million tons of carbon each year, about 3% of total global emissions.

Hardliners in the fight against climate change argue that global warning is so serious that it is no longer ethical for leisure travelers to fly. They say that aircraft pollutants released into the high atmosphere have an enhanced greenhouse effect, and that aircraft emissions are at least twice as damaging as ground level emissions. Even short haul flights are thought to be too polluting since planes have to burn large amounts of fuel in order to reach cruising height only to descend very quickly.

Other travelers argue that it’s not fair to focus on flying when so many other things also contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases.

Many who consider themselves to be ethical tourists argue that people living in developing countries are not responsible for global warming, and that many of these individuals would lose their livelihoods if income from tourism were to disappear. So what would happen if travelers decided that long distance travel was no longer an option?

That’s not going to happen, so here are some suggestions for the thinking traveler:

1. Think about where you are going. Could you relax close to home where you could take the train instead of flying?

2. When you do take a long trip, stay as long as you can. Fly less frequently. Take one trip a year instead of 2 or 3.

3. Take long trips every other year instead of every year.

4. Take the bus or train to the airport. Leave your car at home.

5. Pack light. Remember that luggage is weighed at check-in for a reason.

6. Choose an electronic ticket instead of a paper one. Save a tree — or at least a branch.

7. If you’re a business traveler, meet online instead of face to face. Use chat, video conferencing, or Google Docs to conduct your business.

8. Combine work and play. If you must fly to attend a meeting, stay awhile instead of booking a separate vacation. Less travel will go far to reduce your negative environmental impact.

9. Use TerraPass to calculate your carbon footprint. This will help you choose the best transportation alternative.

10. Check out carbon offset flights. These are where the airline charges a little more for your travel and uses the extra money to plant trees. This approach is fairly controversial so make sure to research the pros and cons before making up your mind.

Want to lessen your contribution to global warming and environmental destruction? Fly less and for shorter distances.