Since our pandemic staycation, we all seem to be flying to distant skies again. But do we really understand what our flights mean for the environment, the earth, and the bigger picture? Some researchers from England have given their perspective. So that the next time we fly, we can make a more informed decision. Should we want to do so.

Do you remember those images of cleaner rivers as a result of the lockdown? In the meantime, we seem to have resumed our habit of long distance flying. The thing is, can we truly say we understand the impact of our decision to go back to booking flights? A bunch of researchers from England say that it is important we do. That it’s key to the planet, the environment, our time on earth. Because, they say, compared to other modes of transport, flights are really quite a bad one. And especially longer-distance flights.

Flights in search of adventure

To shed some light on the matter, the British researchers look at travel behaviour of British travellers. They found that long-distance flights (from 80 kilometres one-way) emit some of the highest levels of CO2 of all forms of travel. And a high number of flights are for leisure and social purposes. We are flying further and fly long distances more often. Britain is not alone in this. Particularly in the West we love going longer distances; in search of adventure, or a different climate.

All in all, the British researchers join a growing view. That the time has come to turn policy attention to making travel cleaner, and in particular flights. Because flying is that bad for the environment, those booking long-haul flights can collectively make a huge change. By choosing to travel in another way, they can achieve a disproportionately large reduction in emissions. “Collectively, if everyone who flies reduces even one flight, it could make a big change,” one of the researchers Zia Wadud, PhD DIC, Associate Professor told Perspective Living. When you think about it, the impact of flights is easy to manage on an individual level. Compared to, say, insulating your home. All we have to do is simply decide not to book a flight.

Source: Wadud, Z., Adeel, M. & Anable, J. Understanding the large role of long-distance travel in carbon emissions from passenger travel. Nat Energy (2024).

“Collectively, if everyone who flies reduces even one flight, it could make a big change.”

It’s not just CO2?

Air flight traffic is also known for emitting other harmful substances. Along with CO2 from burning fuel, planes are also found to affect the concentration of other atmospheric gases and pollutants. Take long-term decrease in ozone and methane as well as increased emissions of exhaust fumes, soot, sulfur aerosols. There are also the plastic coffee cups, headphones, unused meals, and all those other throwaway bits and bobs to consider.

(Image Pexels, Marina Hinic)

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