FAQ’s about the impact of travel
Why is travel such an important issue?
Up to 24% of the carbon footprint of Edinburgh University staff and students comes from travelling, more than half of that is for leisure purposes. Practically all modes of travel apart from walking and cycling depend on fossil fuels, making it a very big concern from the point of view of peak oil and climate change.
Just how much of an impact does an individual make?
Out of the whole University’s carbon footprint, only 14% can be attributed directly to university activities, while the rest comes from our lifestyles. That is how much difference we can make!
Why is flying in particular so bad?
Globally, aviation accounts for 3-4% of the total human impact on climate change. That does not seem much, but is around the same as the whole of Africa and the percentage is still increasing. Flying is very fuel intensive and because pollutants are emitted 30,000 ft up in the atmosphere the global warming effect is amplified. As a result, the real impact on climate change is around 2-3 times greater than only CO2 emissions would suggest.
So why is flying often cheaper than getting the train?
The aviation industry does not pay fuel tax or VAT, meaning that it is often cheaper than road and rail transport. If the plane fuel was taxed at the same rate as petrol, a long-haul flight would cost each passenger around £500 more. A change in government incentives is needed if the cost of flying is to reflect its environmental damage.
Will greener technology save us?
The aviation industry is mature; most of the efficiency gains have already been achieved. It is possible to run trains and cars using electricity produced from renewable energy sources, but there are no electric aircrafts – their requirements for energy storage are just too great. A further 10% increase in efficiency is possible, but making radical changes will take decades. More than that, gains in efficiency usually translate into even cheaper air travel, thus the overall emissions still grow. We need a combination of individual actions, government policy and greener technology to tackle the problem.
Why can’t we just offset the carbon from our flights?
There are no legal standards for carbon offsetting; it is an unregulated market. Therefore, it is difficult to judge the quality of carbon-offsetting schemes. Moreover, carbon-offsetting takes time – a tree that is planted for your money will take 50-100 years to absorb the carbon that heats the planet immediately after being emitted.
But the plane will take off anyway, whether I’m on board or not!
Airlines operate in a highly competitive market and quickly adjust the number of flights depending on the demand from their clients. If there is less demand, it will result in less supply in the future.
What can we do about it?
The most straightforward solution is cutting down on flights: find alternative ways to travel within the UK; consider taking holidays closer to home; when you’re visiting your family abroad, try going fewer times but staying longer each time. If you feel like doing more, join a campaign and spread the word around!
Got another question?
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Other sources:
Books:
Mark Smith. The man in seat 61. Bantam, 2008.
(Essential guide to travelling Europe by trains)
David MacKay. Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air. UIT, 2008
(Technical explanations about energy and efficiency)
Sian Berry. 50 ways to greener travel. Kyle Cathie Ltd., 2008
(Good tips and short explanations)
George Monbiot. Heat: how to stop the planet burning. Allen Lane, 2006
(Policy proposals for a new transport system)
