8 tips for the responsible traveller thinking of flying
It's a difficult and confusing time for those of us who who love to travel, but also care about the impact of our holidays on the environment and local people in tourism destinations.
On one hand some commentators advise us to stop flying to save the environment and the worlds poor (air travel being a major cause of global warming).
On the other hand others us included have stressed that responsible tourism can create real benefits to local communities and to the conservation of the world's natural and cultural heritage.
Finally, some people (again us included) advise tourists to offset their carbon emissions using simple carbon calculators . Elsewhere there has been criticism of tree planting schemes to offset carbon emissions given doubts about how much carbon trees absorb (or emit where they die and rot).
So where does the answer to this paradox lie?
The debate has been raging at the polarities. Either we should all stop flying altogether, or tourism should be encouraged because it could have stopped the atrocities in Darfur (as argued by Keith Jowett Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association defending the industry). Neither view appears feasible.
Air travel currently accounts for just 3% of total emissions (and that includes cargo flights). While all causes of carbon emissions - particularly those like air travel that are growing quickly - need to be tackled urgently it would be easy to imagine from some of the coverage that air travel was the only cause of global warming!
However we do believe that t he cheap cost of our flights will contribute to the enormous costs and destruction associated with global warming. We also believe that action can be taken by consumers, the airline industry and by Government to improve the situation.
Our advice to tourists
1. If its practical to reach your chosen destination by train then do so you are likely cause only one eighth of the emissions of flying
2. Think about taking fewer short breaks by air. They are more polluting per passenger mile than longer flights as take off and landings generate a significant part of the total emissions per flight.
3. Enjoy fewer, longer breaks where your holiday creates some real benefits to conservation and local communities in the tourism destination ask your operator for their written responsible tourism policy to ensure this is the case.
4. Offset the carbon emissions of your flight with a company such as Climate Care that fund projects such as cleaner burning stoves that both reduce carbon emissions and benefit local communities
5. Think about holidaying in the UK we spend £19bn more on holidays overseas than we recieve from overseas tourists. If you do holiday in the UK, then again make sure your holiday accommodation reduces energy use, waste and supports local food producers.
6. Demand that our politicians take action to ensure that the airlines (not just a few enlightened consumers) take responsibility for their emissions - the polluter pays principle. More below.
7. Accept that to combat climate change we will all need to fly differently (as above), and less.
8. make other changes in your life to reduce your carbon emissions.
It's a lot tougher decision to take less cheap flights to Europe than it is to pick up a packet of fair trade tea. As such chaning the way we fly represents one of the the most challenging behaviourial changes for the 'ethical consumer'.
What do we expect of Government?
We expect Government to work with business and consumers to tackle carbon emissions in all sectors, including travel, and to do so proportionately. With regard to travel we expect Government to
1. Ensure airlines meet a fair tax burden. Air travel is subsidised by to the tune of £9bn a year (after air passenger duty) as kerosene is not taxed or subject to VAT. Tax revenues should go towards improving our rail transport networks and public transport.
It is important that the tax rewards 'greener airlines' and is not a flat one size fits all tax. It is also important that this tax is applied across the EU to avoid penalising our airlines vs competitors, or encouraging planes to refuel in EU destinations with no taxation.
2. Ensure airlines are part of The Emissions Trading scheme from 2008. Greener airlines will pay less to offset their emmissions that less green ones - and new technologies will be funded.
3. Stop cross subsidy of the cost of flights by BAA from retail sales at airports.
4. Conduct an urgent review of existing plans to dramatically increase our airport infrstructure
While airlines already are incentivised to increase efficiencies because of the rising cost of fuel these initiatives will create a stronger financial incentive for airlines to invest in cleaner technologies than exists now.
More importanlty they will also raise significant funds to develop greener public transport and rail initiatives. Finally, airlines will pass on the additional costs (tax, emmissions trading) to travellers, this will serve to put a brake on the demand for air travel.
On one hand some commentators advise us to stop flying to save the environment and the worlds poor (air travel being a major cause of global warming).
On the other hand others us included have stressed that responsible tourism can create real benefits to local communities and to the conservation of the world's natural and cultural heritage.
Finally, some people (again us included) advise tourists to offset their carbon emissions using simple carbon calculators . Elsewhere there has been criticism of tree planting schemes to offset carbon emissions given doubts about how much carbon trees absorb (or emit where they die and rot).
So where does the answer to this paradox lie?
The debate has been raging at the polarities. Either we should all stop flying altogether, or tourism should be encouraged because it could have stopped the atrocities in Darfur (as argued by Keith Jowett Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association defending the industry). Neither view appears feasible.
Air travel currently accounts for just 3% of total emissions (and that includes cargo flights). While all causes of carbon emissions - particularly those like air travel that are growing quickly - need to be tackled urgently it would be easy to imagine from some of the coverage that air travel was the only cause of global warming!
However we do believe that t he cheap cost of our flights will contribute to the enormous costs and destruction associated with global warming. We also believe that action can be taken by consumers, the airline industry and by Government to improve the situation.
Our advice to tourists
1. If its practical to reach your chosen destination by train then do so you are likely cause only one eighth of the emissions of flying
2. Think about taking fewer short breaks by air. They are more polluting per passenger mile than longer flights as take off and landings generate a significant part of the total emissions per flight.
3. Enjoy fewer, longer breaks where your holiday creates some real benefits to conservation and local communities in the tourism destination ask your operator for their written responsible tourism policy to ensure this is the case.
4. Offset the carbon emissions of your flight with a company such as Climate Care that fund projects such as cleaner burning stoves that both reduce carbon emissions and benefit local communities
5. Think about holidaying in the UK we spend £19bn more on holidays overseas than we recieve from overseas tourists. If you do holiday in the UK, then again make sure your holiday accommodation reduces energy use, waste and supports local food producers.
6. Demand that our politicians take action to ensure that the airlines (not just a few enlightened consumers) take responsibility for their emissions - the polluter pays principle. More below.
7. Accept that to combat climate change we will all need to fly differently (as above), and less.
8. make other changes in your life to reduce your carbon emissions.
It's a lot tougher decision to take less cheap flights to Europe than it is to pick up a packet of fair trade tea. As such chaning the way we fly represents one of the the most challenging behaviourial changes for the 'ethical consumer'.
What do we expect of Government?
We expect Government to work with business and consumers to tackle carbon emissions in all sectors, including travel, and to do so proportionately. With regard to travel we expect Government to
1. Ensure airlines meet a fair tax burden. Air travel is subsidised by to the tune of £9bn a year (after air passenger duty) as kerosene is not taxed or subject to VAT. Tax revenues should go towards improving our rail transport networks and public transport.
It is important that the tax rewards 'greener airlines' and is not a flat one size fits all tax. It is also important that this tax is applied across the EU to avoid penalising our airlines vs competitors, or encouraging planes to refuel in EU destinations with no taxation.
2. Ensure airlines are part of The Emissions Trading scheme from 2008. Greener airlines will pay less to offset their emmissions that less green ones - and new technologies will be funded.
3. Stop cross subsidy of the cost of flights by BAA from retail sales at airports.
4. Conduct an urgent review of existing plans to dramatically increase our airport infrstructure
While airlines already are incentivised to increase efficiencies because of the rising cost of fuel these initiatives will create a stronger financial incentive for airlines to invest in cleaner technologies than exists now.
More importanlty they will also raise significant funds to develop greener public transport and rail initiatives. Finally, airlines will pass on the additional costs (tax, emmissions trading) to travellers, this will serve to put a brake on the demand for air travel.