No holidays - carbon footprint

But that flight is still going to go ahead whether you're on it or not lol

Yes, as a family we've cut down on flights for this reason - not flown since 2018, although we are doing a short haul trip this year. We've been abroad but done drive/ ferry or train on purpose.

I will fly again, as there's places I want to see, we're time limited by work and school holidays. But definitely cut down for environmental reasons. Also we are mainly plant based, have solar panels, 1 electric car.

Does annoy me when friends and family take multiple flights per year without a thought, but I don't ever mention it. Feels like you can't criticise unless you're greta levels of perfect!

I forgot the well you had children brigade. They'll be along soon to say their usual crud.

Just do something because things are going to get very difficult.

I have only flown once in 20 years. We need to get a grip on the climate crisis because things are looking very difficult for our children. Even climate scientists who have been optimistic are expressing they are scared about what they are seeing with temperatures in the last year.

Don't fly or fly less. Cut down on meat and buying stuff especially clothes.
If everyone tries to make a difference 80% of the time we will make an impact.

Saying China builds power stations so I don't have to do anything is no longer an option.

I have given up flying. I've not given up holidays or.travelling abroad.

It's not an 'either or' - give up flying or take other carbon reduction measures. It's 'both and'.

I don't fly. I do have solar panels, an electric car, a share in a wind farm, a meadow instead of a lawn, good double glazing, and a substantial vegetable patch. I eat mainly locally and seasonally -. not entirely, becauae some things just dont grow locally, but I'm conscious of and limit more distant optioms. For example rice I'll buy imported but berries I won't - i grow those myself, eat them in season and preserve the surplus for.the rest of the year. I'd have difficulty cutting my beef consumption, given that I've been vegetarian for almost half a century (and have a dairy allergy, so am completely cow free).

I assume you don’t have children either?

It's about recognising what can make an impact and what can't.
It's about being informed and making informed choices.
People who care about the environment should be aware of the tiny/minimal impact a person's holiday will have (if they aren't flying to the US or China). Instead of getting hung up on something that doesn't matter, divert your energy to something which does. I'm in no way saying that it's best to do nothing. I said several things in my post above about how to make a positive meaningful impact. People seem intent on parroting that "we must stop flying to save the environment", without actually looking at what the figures are for carbon emissions. I don't see how that's remotely helpful.
And to be honest, it's sad. The world is beautiful. There are many cultures that benefit/need tourism. Also too many people work themselves into the ground. I just don't think the rhetoric being parroted in this thread is useful to the green initiative or helpful to many people's mental health.

I am also a regular flyer, but the argument about the planes flying or not doesn't make sense.
If less people fly, fewer flights will be put on due to less demand.

Took a plane half way to our destination and then trained the rest and the. Travelled around by train. Love trains. Intend to stick to trains in future. So much more civilised than flying

We don't holiday abroad but environmental pact is just one advantage.

Haven’t flown since 2018 for environmental reasons. Family don’t really fly anyway. Friends do. Will never say never again, but at the moment just can’t justify it.

Honestly, following climate scientists / IPCC authors on X/Twitter has been hugely eye-opening.

I know a handful of non fliers from principle [ including my own son]. They can still go abroad, but by train/ferry so costs more. They spend more or go less often.

And as many people say all the time when someone goes I cnba because it doesn’t make a difference. They are told that if everyone did at least one little thing it will overall make a big difference.

The oh well fuck it flying is only 2% don’t can’t matter, why recycle it’s not worth it, well China…why should I turn my lights off vegas is like a Christmas tree…. Shops don’t turn theirs off. If how we end up further in the shit.

I haven't flown for several years and it's entirely down to environmental reasons. I also have solar panels, don't drive and am very careful about food miles etc.

Some people do give a shit and take as many measures as possible to limit their impact.

I'm always surprised in these threads by how little people seem to have thought about the figures.
2% of global emissions are due to Aviation.
1% of global emissions is from the UK.

Not going on holiday due to your carbon footprint is little more than virtue signalling.

If you want to make an impact with regards to climate change you're better off reducing beef consumption and buying from local businesses. Support the Greens so you can lobby the government to influence trade agreements and put pressure on the US and China.

When you book holidays, support green initiatives in the local community you're visiting. Boycott the US and China. Plenty of other lovely places in the world to visit that aren't increasing coal mine production. The world is large and beautiful, and travel broadens the mind.

I have a few friends who no longer fly for environmental reasons. They still holiday abroad, they just travel by train instead.

We've limited flying for several years now. It's driven by environmental factors, but also we live in SE England so it's often quicker to take the train or drive rather than to fly, and lots of Europe is closer than lots of the UK. I'm sure it would be harder to make the same decision if we had to get all the way across England first. But as things stand, I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything - I really enjoy the journey! I don't waste any effort trying to win over my friend who's a pilot, just like she doesn't try to book me onto the resort holidays she flies people to. It's possible to make different choices respectfully.

It's definitely got more expensive since the pandemic which seems like a step in the wrong direction. I'm happy to pay a little more to avoid flying, but there are limits.

@bergamotorange @WishIhadnotcome I did not know that. I naively assumed that since there are lots of people on board, it should be an environmentally friendly way to holiday. Thanks for your replies.

I have flown very little for the past 20 years, for environmental reasons. On average perhaps once every 3 or 4 years. I would love to travel more but I just can’t justify it.

We try to reduce flights, for example taking train and ferry out to family and flying back. When we have enough time we go fully by train. It’s fun.

We go camping or caravanning. My oldest is petrified of heights. So we last flew 14 years ago.

also only dh drives, we also grow a lot of our own food, we don’t own a tumble dryer or a dish washer 😅

@Kitkat1523 we're off to Mull for 2 weeks on Wednesday. It's 14 degrees and raining at the mo! But the scenery is breathtaking, with white sandy beaches and turquoise sea. We go to beaches where you don't see another soul all day. And the sun always shows eventually, and when it does there is nowhere on earth I'd rather be. The best things are worth waiting for :-)

Last time I went abroad (Tenerife, August 2003) it rained roughly 50% of the time. Such heavy rain that the road behind the hotel was flooded. Luckily we were all inclusive so didn't need to leave!

Last time I went on a UK holiday (Devon, May 2024) I got sunburn.

Abroad doesn't guarantee sun!

Could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I have flown anywhere in my entire life and I am in my late 60's. This is not for environmental reasons, more the cost when I was younger and also DH is afraid of flying. We have been to lots of lovely places in the UK and also to Europe by ferry etc. We don't do a lot of mileage in the cars either so quite inadvertently our carbon footprint is probably quite low.

I don't fly anymore, mainly for environmental reasons. I would never make critical comments about anyone who does fly though.