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> It is hard for me to understand the demonisation of air travel. Because domestic air travel is one of the worst pollutants? https://ourworldindata.org/trave

> It is hard for me to understand the demonisation of air travel. Because domestic air travel is one of the worst pollutants? https://ourworldindata.org/travel-carbon-footprint https://ourworldindata.org/travel-carbon-footprint > Cars are rarely advertised as "less contaminant", and I would say that most people buying an electric car nowadays don't care that much about emissions, as they do about efficiency or simply the "cool factor". In Europe they list the emissions along with the mpg. > and I would say that most people buying an electric car nowadays don't care Many care. > but decreasing air travel and/or increasing rates would penalise those who live far away from their families, and they are many. I live across the country from my family, we know the environmental cost of visits and minimize as a result. I wish this cost was just explicit instead so everyone could recognize it.

errcorrectcode 5y ago
The mode of transport matters. The largest possible carbon footprint would in be something like a cross country flight in an ICE flying car like a (vaporware) Moller. Trains run 6-60 g/km whereas single-passenger vehicles are 90+. The smallest might be in a solar-powered glider or solar-powered "car", effectively 0. Also, if you can personally offset your footprint by actively participating in carbon capture and sequestration permanently, then some luxuries are okay in small quantities.
- eightysixfour 5y ago
  I absolutely am not suggesting we should not have luxuries in small quantities. We should avoid frivolous and wasteful use of those resources though. How many consultants were flying 2x a week to and from a client prior to COVID?
manuelabeledo 5y ago
> Because domestic air travel is one of the worst pollutants? According to that link, total domestic air travel carbon footprint in the UK would be negligible, compared to diesel engines. > I live across the country from my family, we know the environmental cost of visits and minimize as a result. I would need to take several trains, buses, and board a ship, to see my family. Mine is not an exceptional case.
- eightysixfour 5y ago
  > According to that link, total domestic air travel carbon footprint in the UK would be negligible, compared to diesel engines. Should we not look at every source of emissions? Domestic air travel is something like 1% of global emissions and international is ~1.2% and both are growing significantly. > I would need to take several trains, buses, and board a ship, to see my family. Mine is not an exceptional case. Okay? I can take a 54 hour bus ride, I could drive, or I could fly. I just don't go. I'm not saying everyone should do this, but I also don't think we should continue looking at air travel the way we did prior to COVID. As I mentioned in another comment, how many consultants were flying twice a week to and from clients? How many flights were for handshakes and quick flights home? Those things being minimized gives us more margin for flights that "matter" - seeing family, etc.
  - manuelabeledo 5y ago
    > Should we not look at every source of emissions? Absolutely. But right now, the solutions for land travel aren't available for air travel, and air travel is negligible, compared to land travel. My point here is that air travel is receiving a lot of hate, when it is not the main pollutant when it comes to modes of transportation, not by a long shot. > As I mentioned in another comment, how many consultants were flying twice a week to and from clients? How many flights were for handshakes and quick flights home? I agree with this position. Work travel has been pushed by the belief that face to face meetings are mostly indispensable, and COVID-19 proved that they are not. I also think that there is a component pushed and exacerbated by patronage networks.

errcorrectcode 5y ago

The mode of transport matters. The largest possible carbon footprint would in be something like a cross country flight in an ICE flying car like a (vaporware) Moller. Trains run 6-60 g/km whereas single-passenger vehicles are 90+. The smallest might be in a solar-powered glider or solar-powered "car", effectively 0. Also, if you can personally offset your footprint by actively participating in carbon capture and sequestration permanently, then some luxuries are okay in small quantities.

eightysixfour 5y ago
I absolutely am not suggesting we should not have luxuries in small quantities. We should avoid frivolous and wasteful use of those resources though. How many consultants were flying 2x a week to and from a client prior to COVID?

manuelabeledo 5y ago

> Because domestic air travel is one of the worst pollutants? According to that link, total domestic air travel carbon footprint in the UK would be negligible, compared to diesel engines. > I live across the country from my family, we know the environmental cost of visits and minimize as a result. I would need to take several trains, buses, and board a ship, to see my family. Mine is not an exceptional case.

eightysixfour 5y ago
> According to that link, total domestic air travel carbon footprint in the UK would be negligible, compared to diesel engines. Should we not look at every source of emissions? Domestic air travel is something like 1% of global emissions and international is ~1.2% and both are growing significantly. > I would need to take several trains, buses, and board a ship, to see my family. Mine is not an exceptional case. Okay? I can take a 54 hour bus ride, I could drive, or I could fly. I just don't go. I'm not saying everyone should do this, but I also don't think we should continue looking at air travel the way we did prior to COVID. As I mentioned in another comment, how many consultants were flying twice a week to and from clients? How many flights were for handshakes and quick flights home? Those things being minimized gives us more margin for flights that "matter" - seeing family, etc.
- manuelabeledo 5y ago
  > Should we not look at every source of emissions? Absolutely. But right now, the solutions for land travel aren't available for air travel, and air travel is negligible, compared to land travel. My point here is that air travel is receiving a lot of hate, when it is not the main pollutant when it comes to modes of transportation, not by a long shot. > As I mentioned in another comment, how many consultants were flying twice a week to and from clients? How many flights were for handshakes and quick flights home? I agree with this position. Work travel has been pushed by the belief that face to face meetings are mostly indispensable, and COVID-19 proved that they are not. I also think that there is a component pushed and exacerbated by patronage networks.