Sustainable Ideas...

Planes and air travel are a massive contribution to global warming. British environmentalist, Mark Lynas, says, “We could close every factory, lock away every car and turn off every light in the country, but it won’t halt global warming if we carry on taking planes as often as we do.”

Globalization is the primary reason for this. Think about how many budget airlines there are nowadays, all of which primarily businesspeople, followed by tourism and immigration. Air travel has increased 9 percent annually for the past 40 years!

I love to travel, and it is something I don’t plan on giving up anytime soon. A really interesting website to check out is www.atmosfair.com. This site allows you to calculate your emissions to and from anywhere in the world. The results may give you a minor anxiety attack. I entered Philadelphia to London, and the CO2 emissions surpassed that of a climate compatible budget of one person per year, and far outdid the emissions for one year of car driving. That was just one trip!

So how to we solve this without giving up the luxury of seeing the world?

Well, one option is that you can donate money to various projects that eliminate greenhouse gases, just as a means to offset these environmental costs. In addition, some airlines are cutting emissions by boosting fuel efficiency. Running engines only when absolutely necessary, and reducing the weight of onboard supplies are both simple options for airline carriers.

Another possibility, if it is possible, is to only fly when absolutely necessary, and stay places longer. Quick weekend getaways are very common, particularly in the United States. To stay placed longer would be a much more pleasurable experience, anyway. You actually get to settle and experience another place, let it soak in.

High speed, more extensive rail networks are emerging worldwide. Amtrak released the Acela Express train last year, which is the U.S. example of this.

The infamous Virgin Atlantic entrepreneur, Richard Branson, is contributing $3 billion in fighting global warming over the next 10 years. He is also investing billions in what he calls “Virgin Fuel,” which will be a type of clean fuel for cars, trucks, and trains, as well as jets. This is a
huge potential breakthrough for cleaner, fuel efficient transportation.

The way I see it, there is a positive solution for every negative environmental impact that’s being made, and people are out there thinking and testing, and trying to make a difference in the ways we consume. We can experience the pleasures in life, without abusing them. Think about your travel ethics and ways your actions affect the larger whole. Also continue to support the movements that airlines and other transportation companies are trying to make!