Fly less. How much less? responsibletravel.com does the maths

PRESS RELEASE: March 20th, 2007

FLY LESS.  HOW MUCH LESS? RESPONSIBLETRAVEL.COM DOES THE MATHS
  
Contrary to many commentators, responsibletravel.com proves we do not all need to stop flying immediately.

Last Tuesday’s draft Climate Change Bill set statutory targets to cut UK carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050 from 1990 levels. While an encouraging step forward, the targets do not include emissions from international aviation.

responsibletravel.com has not been shy of facing up to the fact that we need to fly significantly less and was the first travel agent to say so.

However, it regards the ‘ground all planes now’ approach of environmentalists such as George Monbiot and the campaign group, Plane Stupid as unrealistic and unnecessary.

“It simply isn’t going to happen and in fact, it doesn’t need to. Although the government hasn’t allowed for it in their calculations, if we consider emissions from aviation in proportion to other emissions we should be cutting them by 60% too. This means on average each person taking 0.1 less flights per year.” says Justin Francis, co-founder and MD of responsibletravel.com

Even if we assume that no further improvements are made in aircraft fuel efficiency (a worst case scenario - a 2006 report for DTI covers 5 scenarios ranging from no aircraft fuel efficiency improvements to a likely technology scenario between now and 2030¹), on the basis that the average Briton takes around 5 flights a year (DTI report 2003²), to cut this by 60% by 2050 would mean dropping to 2 flights a year in 2050 (to supplement with train travel, a weekend break closer to home, a ferry ride across to France, whatever you fancy).

This works out at less than a tenth of a flight less each year for the next 43 years; a steady gradual reduction flying in the face of claims that we must all stop flying immediately.
  

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