Flying and the responsible traveller
The dilemma
At responsibletravel.com, we are often asked: "How can a holiday be responsible if you have to fly to get there?"
This isn't a question we have always been asked. When responsibletravel.com was founded in 2001 hardly anyone knew what a responsible holiday was. But in the intervening years, and more than ever in 2006, the public has become much more aware of the impacts of our day-to-day decisions, including flying. And flying is the hot topic. Although it only currently accounts for approximately 3% of emissions, it accounts for about 90% of the media coverage on global warming!
We have created this section to gather together our thinking on flying and to give you the opportunity to air your comments.
"Surely it doesn't matter how green your ecolodge is, if you are flying them out there? Are you not doing something even worse than most tour operators do: persuading people that long-distance travel is not just harmless but actually beneficial?"
Read our response...
So should we give up flying?
8 tips for the responsible traveller thinking of flying
Will giving up flying save the environment and the world’s poor or deprive them of the benefits responsible tourism can bring? If it's all getting too confusing, read our 8 top tips before you fly!
Flying in the face of global warming - to fly or not to fly?
"My plane will emit carbon dioxide and other harmful gasses that will contribute to global warming. The Bishop of London would call people like me who fly evil."
Justin Francis tackles the debate head-on in the context of his recent trip to Ethiopia ( more)
Can a holiday be responsible if you need to fly to get there?
While responsible holidays are attracting increasing attention, is it responsible to book one if you need to fly to the holiday destination? Justin Francis tries to square the circle of responsible travel, aviation and carbon emissions. ( more)
The role of Government
Air travel costs are up...by the price of an in-flight drink
In December 2006, Gordon Brown increased APD (Air Passenger Duty) on flights. Was this the right thing to do? Was it enough? ( more)
Curbing air travel - 8 golden rules
With speculation rife over an imminent increase in taxation (see above) via air passenger duty (APD), responsibletravel.com offers 8 golden rules for reducing carbon emissions. ( more)
Should the responsible traveller be flying? We call on the EU to implement emissions trading in 2008
responsibletravel.com believes that the emissions trading scheme (ETS) is the best tool to reduce emissions. ( more)
Action
We wrote to the environmental ministers for Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats with recommendations on tackling increasing emissions from aviation.
Labour
Response from Julius Hinks, (Defra - Customer Contact Unit, on behalf of David Miliband)
"It is our view that the development of aviation should be sustainable, ensuring that a proper balance is struck and maintained between economic, environmental and social considerations. [...] Within this framework, the polluter should pay and aviation should meet its external costs, including its impact on climate change and other environmental problems. Inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is the best means of doing so..." (more)
Liberal Democrats
Response from Chris Huhne MP (Shadow Environment Secretary)
"Thanks very much for your letter of 11th December, much of which I agree with [...] we favour putting aviation into the ETS and putting flying on a level playing field with a quadrupling of the revenue from a reformed national aviation tax and an EU kerosene tax..." (more)
Conservatives
Response from Greg Barker MP (Shadow Minister for the Environment)
"First of all, let me assure you that I agree with you that one of the biggest issues for consumers when choosing how to travel is what impact their journey is likely to have upon the environment. This requires airlines and travel companies, such as responsibletravel.com, to take a leadership role in changing travellers’ behaviour..." (more)
Flying...with a sense of proportion
Should I really give up clothes?
The media coverage of the link between aviation and global warming is hard to miss. But is giving up flying the answer to the world's problems? Or are there other issues that need to be tackled too? ( more)
Fly me to the moon - but switch off the TV first!
Typical emissions per person per year are around 11 tonnes, yet a return flight from London to Barcelona will only emit approximately 0.26 tonnes per person. A few simple actions could allow the traveller to ‘afford’ the carbon emissions of a given flight. ( more)
No fly zone
'I don't want to fly!'
If you want to avoid flying altogether, we've created a special section to help you do just that. Check out our 'I don't want to fly' holidays
Planning a plane-free trip
To find out how to get around without leaving the ground, see our top tips for Getting there...responsibly
Carbon Offsetting
Offsetting emissions
While we agree that the carbon offset is no magic wand, it is a way of directing money to where it is needed. ( more)
Tell us what you think
We would love to hear your thoughts on this contentious issue. To fly or not to fly? Send your comments to: justin@responsibletravel.com
At responsibletravel.com, we are often asked: "How can a holiday be responsible if you have to fly to get there?"
This isn't a question we have always been asked. When responsibletravel.com was founded in 2001 hardly anyone knew what a responsible holiday was. But in the intervening years, and more than ever in 2006, the public has become much more aware of the impacts of our day-to-day decisions, including flying. And flying is the hot topic. Although it only currently accounts for approximately 3% of emissions, it accounts for about 90% of the media coverage on global warming!We have created this section to gather together our thinking on flying and to give you the opportunity to air your comments.
"Surely it doesn't matter how green your ecolodge is, if you are flying them out there? Are you not doing something even worse than most tour operators do: persuading people that long-distance travel is not just harmless but actually beneficial?"
Read our response...
So should we give up flying?
8 tips for the responsible traveller thinking of flying
Will giving up flying save the environment and the world’s poor or deprive them of the benefits responsible tourism can bring? If it's all getting too confusing, read our 8 top tips before you fly!
Flying in the face of global warming - to fly or not to fly? "My plane will emit carbon dioxide and other harmful gasses that will contribute to global warming. The Bishop of London would call people like me who fly evil."
Justin Francis tackles the debate head-on in the context of his recent trip to Ethiopia ( more)
Can a holiday be responsible if you need to fly to get there?
While responsible holidays are attracting increasing attention, is it responsible to book one if you need to fly to the holiday destination? Justin Francis tries to square the circle of responsible travel, aviation and carbon emissions. ( more)
The role of Government
Air travel costs are up...by the price of an in-flight drink
In December 2006, Gordon Brown increased APD (Air Passenger Duty) on flights. Was this the right thing to do? Was it enough? ( more)
Curbing air travel - 8 golden rules
With speculation rife over an imminent increase in taxation (see above) via air passenger duty (APD), responsibletravel.com offers 8 golden rules for reducing carbon emissions. ( more)
Should the responsible traveller be flying? We call on the EU to implement emissions trading in 2008
responsibletravel.com believes that the emissions trading scheme (ETS) is the best tool to reduce emissions. ( more)
Action
We wrote to the environmental ministers for Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats with recommendations on tackling increasing emissions from aviation.
Labour
Response from Julius Hinks, (Defra - Customer Contact Unit, on behalf of David Miliband)
"It is our view that the development of aviation should be sustainable, ensuring that a proper balance is struck and maintained between economic, environmental and social considerations. [...] Within this framework, the polluter should pay and aviation should meet its external costs, including its impact on climate change and other environmental problems. Inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is the best means of doing so..." (more)
Liberal Democrats
Response from Chris Huhne MP (Shadow Environment Secretary)
"Thanks very much for your letter of 11th December, much of which I agree with [...] we favour putting aviation into the ETS and putting flying on a level playing field with a quadrupling of the revenue from a reformed national aviation tax and an EU kerosene tax..." (more)
Conservatives
Response from Greg Barker MP (Shadow Minister for the Environment)
"First of all, let me assure you that I agree with you that one of the biggest issues for consumers when choosing how to travel is what impact their journey is likely to have upon the environment. This requires airlines and travel companies, such as responsibletravel.com, to take a leadership role in changing travellers’ behaviour..." (more)
Flying...with a sense of proportion
Should I really give up clothes?
The media coverage of the link between aviation and global warming is hard to miss. But is giving up flying the answer to the world's problems? Or are there other issues that need to be tackled too? ( more)
Fly me to the moon - but switch off the TV first!
Typical emissions per person per year are around 11 tonnes, yet a return flight from London to Barcelona will only emit approximately 0.26 tonnes per person. A few simple actions could allow the traveller to ‘afford’ the carbon emissions of a given flight. ( more)
No fly zone
'I don't want to fly!'If you want to avoid flying altogether, we've created a special section to help you do just that. Check out our 'I don't want to fly' holidays
Planning a plane-free trip
To find out how to get around without leaving the ground, see our top tips for Getting there...responsibly
Carbon Offsetting
Offsetting emissions
While we agree that the carbon offset is no magic wand, it is a way of directing money to where it is needed. ( more)
Tell us what you think
We would love to hear your thoughts on this contentious issue. To fly or not to fly? Send your comments to: justin@responsibletravel.com