Would You Take A Year Off From Flying Anywhere

[emmie]

these ladies have persuaded 10,000 people so far, apparently, to not fly for 2019, this is to do with climate change.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-46362159/the-two-swedish-mums-who-want-people-to-give-up-flying-for-a-year

[Old_Geezer]

Haven't flown for years.
But, no. No point aircraft flying empty and me missing out on yet another holiday.

[david small]

Not necessarily emmie. It can be done by boat.

[emmie]

don't boats use fuel? and what about debris that is chucked into the oceans from all manner of vessels.

[woofgang]

I haven’t flown anywhere since the beginning of the nineties and never for a holiday so I figure I am in credit

[emmie]

long term non flying is a non starter for the reasons i have already established. If everyone stopped flying then that puts paid to many jobs, people's livelihoods, tourism would be hit right across the world.
As i said i can see their point, but it isn't very practical for most people. One can take boats but that means longer journeys, and the inevitable delays in getting where you are going.

[naomi24]

No. It's impractical and unworkable. In 2016 an estimated 3.8 billion people travelled by air so it would take rather a lot to make even a minor dent in that. It simply isn't going to happen. Ridiculous.

[emmie]

totally agree Naomi, completely impractical.

[DTCwordfan]

A Boeing 747 uses 7840kg of aviation fuel for the take-off, climb and descent portions of the flight and these account for about 250km. For journeys longer than that, the plane will use 10.1kg for each additional kilometre under typical cruising conditions. So to fly from Heathrow to Edinburgh (530km) uses 10,668kg of fuel, which releases a little over 33 tonnes of CO2.

Whereas a Ford Mondeo 1.8 TDCi emits 151g of CO2 per km and covers 650km to reach Edinburgh. That works out to be 98kg for a single passenger, compared to 79kg per person for the Jumbo, assuming it carries its full complement of 416 passengers. But you could drive 336 cars to Edinburgh for the same CO2 as one plane.

[woofgang]

While I agree it unworkable, I do think that people need to think about fuel miles more and rid themselves of the notion of entitlement, whether its holidays abroad or foreign out of season fruit and veg

[emmie]

Many people don't think about about where their food comes from, let alone have it flown half way round the world. I like the fact i can have certain produce that isn't in season in UK - though if it wasn't available then so be it.

[emmie]

but foreign holidays, or holidays here are going to use fuel, and what happens if we decide not to holiday abroad, the industries go bust. we rely massively on tourism in UK, particularly London, billions are produced for our economy, and the same for when we go abroad.
Greece, Italy, Spain rely on tourism, and you can't get there quickly by other means than flying.

[naomi24]

woofgang, it isn't about entitlement. It's simply the way we live in the 21st century. Unless the whole world agrees to relinquish modern life, nothing will change. This sort of thing is a futile gesture.

[ludwig]

No. I don't do or refrain from doing anything with climate change specifically in mind.

[kvalidir]

I don't feel entitled Woof tbh, I have family both sides of the Atlantic and work both side of the Atlantic, some of which sometimes has to be done days apart. I simply can't travel any other way, and neither can thousands of people. What does anyone suggest we do, maroon ourselves one side and not work or see our loved ones?

[emmie]

kval, exactly my point, how would we get to see family if they are abroad, or do business of any kind.

[Spicerack]

You have no reason to feel ashamed of your absolutely enormous carbon footprint, Kval.
I've got a tiny one.

[ludwig]

// Unless the whole world agrees to relinquish modern life, nothing will change. //

Exactly right, and that isn't going to happen, which is why we should probably start thinking more about how we survive climate change rather than how we're going to stop it.

[Deskdiary]

It's always only ever other people that shouldn't fly...

I can remember a few years ago the Chief Luvvie, Emma Thompson, getting all hissy about the third runway at Heathrow and increasing numbers of people flying (not just from Heathrow), so it struck me as odd that somebody who is as clearly intelligent as she is couldn't see the irony that to a very large extent she needs flight to maintain her career (not unless she swims to America). Or in other words, it's OK for me to fly, but not others.

Anyway - it's all moot as the numbers flying are predicted to continue to grow in the future, so 10,000 not flying for a year is pretty irrelevant (10,000 is the equivalent of 20 fully-loaded A380 flights).

I love flying - the only thing that would ever stop me flying is if I was priced out of being able to afford it. The environment would be way way way down any list for me as a reason not to fly.

[ummmm]

Sad to say that climate change is not on my list either.

[woofgang]

interesting comments....its going to take a whole new mindset......