May Puckey is a 17-year-old from East Devon who is passionate about the environment and politics. We are very keen to encourage young citizen journalists, so please get in touch if you want to have your writing considered for publication.
Happy New Year! This year, I have pledged to be flight-free for the sixth year in a row on Flight Free UK’s website and encourage others to do the same due to the catastrophic environmental impact the aviation industry has, which I don’t think is covered enough in the media. Even if we all just reduced our plane travel it would make a massive difference!
Many people imagine that eating meat or perhaps driving in diesel cars is the worst thing for the climate (and don’t get me wrong, they still are massive contributors to the crisis) and are surprised to find out that in reality the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) declares flying as the worst individual action someone can take.
On the surface, the aviation industry seems relatively harmless, accounting for only around 2 per cent of global carbon emissions annually. However, this doesn’t specify that in reality carbon dioxide only attributes for around a third of aviation’s warming effect, with other emissions such as nitrous oxide and water vapour contributing, too. This means that the total contribution of aviation to global heating is estimated at 3.5 per cent.
So what? That’s a slim percentage, right? Again, this statistic fails to paint the whole picture: in reality, only around 10 per cent of the world’s population flies annually, meaning that, globally, flying is very rare. For this same reason, aviation emissions make up about 10 per cent of the UK’s total emissions, because we, as a country, fly a lot more regularly than others. To put this in perspective, one return flight to Mumbai is as bad as eating red meat every day for a year, demonstrating not only how much of a prevalent issue this is, but also that cutting down on just one flight year is huge step in the right direction.
When I began to understand these statistics, I decided I would no longer fly. It isn’t always the most convenient, as the Eurostar tends to be slower and more expensive than a flight, and the places you can go to are more limited. At times, I have missed out on holidays or occasions abroad because of my decision. For example, one of my closest friends is Norwegian and invited me to her confirmation celebration a few years ago (a coming of age ceremony which is more of a traditional custom rather than a religious one for many Norwegians). However, it was only over a few days, meaning it was unreachable by Eurostar or boat given the time restraint of school. This resulted in me deciding not to go.
Many of my friends were shocked at my decision, but I personally would have felt burdened by guilt if I’d gone, given I am aware of the severity of the climate crisis and how much the aviation industry contributes to it. For me, a personal benefit such as a holiday can only truly be a benefit if it’s not harming anyone else. However, I understand that everyone holds different values to heart, especially when it comes to such broad issues such as the environment so even if you decide to just reduce your flights rather than wholly give them up, you are greatly minimising your carbon footprint.
Despite the time issues, there are definite benefits to travelling abroad in other ways. With slower travel, such as on the Eurostar, you get to absorb a lot more of a country’s landscape, and often get to travel through other countries on the way to your destination. I also found when I travelled to France a few years ago via the Eurostar that the border control is a lot less of a hassle compared to at an airport and you often get more seat room and wifi, which is perfect if you’re a teenager like me!
I am hoping to travel abroad at some point this year by train, either to Southern France again or Berlin because I am fascinated by the culture there. I understand that travelling by train is not always an option for people due to time and financial constraints – perhaps this highlights a wider problem in society. Aviation fuel is exempt from tax, for example, while other fuels are not.
The decision to stop travelling abroad by plane has also encouraged me to explore a lot more of the UK. Holidaying in the UK more has led me to discover some stunning places, such as Sharpham Trust, near Totnes, in Devon.
You can read more about this issue on Flight Free UK’s website and pledge to go flight free this year. Obviously it’s different if you’ve got family abroad (all my immediate family live in the UK, luckily) but you can still pledge on Flight Free UK’s website to not fly for leisure, or to reduce your flights generally. They have plenty more statistics on their website and recommendations for how you can travel affordably in other ways.
Happy New Year!
Editor: Do write and tell us if you have decided to take up the challenge. Tell us about your trips and how you managed your alternative travel arrangements: editor@westcountryvoices.co.uk. We will pass on messages to May, too!
