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Original poster

Only 42% consider environmental sustainability of holidays?

134 replies

EveSix · 03/03/2023 23:44

Just came across this survey at the bottom of another thread.
Is this really representative? Or is it that most people are planning rustic camping holidays in the UK so genuinely don't need to worry much about the environmental impact of their holiday?
I'm surprised. If I think about various social contexts I'm part of (colleagues, friendship circle, DCs' school, extended family etc) not many people would announce a foreign holiday involving flights without a little bit of apologetic cringeing.
Or am looking at it the wrong way around, and 42% is perhaps a big improvement on the previous decade?

Only 42% consider environmental sustainability of holidays?
OP posts:
kitcat15 · 04/03/2023 00:03

I would have thought it higher……in my social circles it’s never spoken about….no one ever speaks apologetically about booking flights….I don’t think most of my family and friends give it a second thought

Ellmau · 04/03/2023 00:07

not many people would announce a foreign holiday involving flights without a little bit of apologetic cringeing.

But they still book the flights? TBH that sounds like empty posturing.

ohfook · 04/03/2023 00:15

Are your friends apologetic/cringey about driving cars, having kids or having fake grass?

Everyone is doing their best, juggling a range of factors, including but not limited to, the environmental impact. I don't think it's that big a deal.

midgemadgemodge · 04/03/2023 00:38

It is possible to save the climate and still have occasional flights

I am surprised so many people think about it - it's great , many more than say ten years ago

Cheap high speed trains for most of Europe would be nice - but ordinary people can't make that happen so they do the best they can

StillMedusa · 04/03/2023 00:51

I've camped in the uk every summer for the last 15 years.
I recycle. I don't eat meat or fish. I re use, and charity shop.

BUT...my ds1 now lives in Australia. Am I going to fly across the world to see him every few years (as I'll have to save every penny to do so) Yes. I wish I didn't need to fly anywhere, but yes I'll be going and I'm not apologising for that!

HeddaGarbled · 04/03/2023 00:55

not many people would announce a foreign holiday involving flights without a little bit of apologetic cringeing

No one I know would feel this way at all. But no one I know would fly more than once a year, if that.

WeepingSomnambulist · 04/03/2023 01:33

I haven't flown since I was 18. I'm 34. I'm off on holiday next week with my kids. Their first time on a plane.
I haven't given the environment any thought at all. We do our bit. We are vegetarian, we do all th eco stuff; bamboo toothbrushes, cheeky wipes instead of toilet roll, coconut husk scourers, bar soap and solid shampoo etc so really limited plastic as much as we can. We try hard to be thoughtful of our impact. So, on this occasion, I did not think about the impact of flying.

Mouldyfoodhelp · 04/03/2023 01:38

Isn't it 42% don't consider environmental impact, tbh I'd have expected that number to be 65-70% I never hear anyone offline talking about the environmental impact of things with any real conviction and there'd be no faux cringey embarrassment about going on holiday

Chocchops72 · 04/03/2023 06:52

I live in a different country to all my family, as do many of my friends here. Also a lot of friends have husbands who get sent overseas to work: one moved to Canada this year, another has just gone to Shanghai. They both fly back at least three times a year to see their children and other family.

i don’t know if these trips count as a holiday but I don’t think many people give the environmental impact more than a passing thought. We aren’t flying this year, we are driving / taking the ferry, but that’s so we have a car rather than hiring one in the uk at silly money.

a lot of us would use the train more to get from mainland Europe to the UK if Eurostar would get its act together at the UK end and increase capacity.

olympicsrock · 04/03/2023 07:11

I honestly think most people care more about having a holiday with sunshine that is affordable than the affect on the environment.
I fly abroad 6 times a year for holidays and don’t feel guilty. We do drive an electric car. People prioritise differently.

ovenchips · 04/03/2023 07:23

Surprised by your reference to apologetic cringing for booking a flight. I can honestly say I have never encountered this from others or done it myself. What a curious mix of hair shirt/ virtue signalling behaviour.

WaddleAway · 04/03/2023 07:26

Apologetic cringing… but do it anyway? So sounds like they know they’re supposed to care but don’t really. Why is that any better than just not considering it?
We haven’t been abroad on holiday for years due to finances so it’s not something I think about.

PandasAreUseless · 04/03/2023 07:29

I wouldn't give a thought to the environmental sustainability of a holiday.

I've got a naturally small carbon footprint. I commute to work by train twice a week, I drive a little car for leisure on top of that - about 5 miles a week in total, I like second hand furniture, I buy quality clothes and not many of them as I'm a minimalist, I eat very little meat, I don't have kids.

Since 2019 I've flown shorthaul once. I couldn't give a crap about the damage that flight caused.

My suuuuper middle class friends do a LOT of lecturing about the environmental impact of flying......whilst seemingly taking an inordinate amount of flights!! The middle class crowd really love a far flung destination too, don't they. It's all Vietnam, Peru and Namibia!

ticklemepinker · 04/03/2023 07:33

I’m as surprised as you, OP. That people don’t even THINK about it? We always do, every time - means we think really carefully about flying/not flying, and never do the weekend trips loads of people used to do without thinking twice.

PacificallyRequested · 04/03/2023 07:34

I do consider the environment impact of flying now, I never used to. I now fly once a year at most for a main holiday (1 or 2 weeks). I wouldn't fly within the UK or to spend just a couple of nights in a European city. That's not necessarily logical but it's what I've decided on!

RunTowardsTheLight · 04/03/2023 07:38

Honestly though OP, is it any better to do it and then cringe to your friends?

whereaw · 04/03/2023 07:40

It does make me laugh that people look down on those who don't travel aboard on a regular basis, like they are somehow ignorant - I wonder if that attitude will start to change with climate change.

But people don't like to think about the damage they (we) are all doing to the environment.

It's like raving about EU and Uk drastically reducing emissions (which are really just offshored elsewhere)

Or thinking electric cars = good, but ignoring impacts of lithium mining

Moredarkchocolateplease · 04/03/2023 07:40

It hasn't ever crossed my mind. I don't get to go abroad much now anyway and the lady few times have been on the eurotunnel.

But no,. If someone said I could fly to NYC tomorrow id bite their hand off and go. No thought about the environment.

I've never come across this in conversation either. And friends are super middle class all DC at private schools.

ethelredonagoodday · 04/03/2023 07:44

kitcat15 · 04/03/2023 00:03

I would have thought it higher……in my social circles it’s never spoken about….no one ever speaks apologetically about booking flights….I don’t think most of my family and friends give it a second thought

Yep agree. Most of my friends and family are exceptionally lovely, intelligent people, but I don't think it would even cross their mind. Some serious national campaigning on this needs to be done if people are going to start to 'get it'...

Casilero · 04/03/2023 07:48

I'm surprised it's not a lot higher. I honestly have never come across anyone ever "apologetic cringing" over booking a flight. Why would they? Sounds a bit hypocritical and rather like pointless virtue signalling.

WaddleAway · 04/03/2023 07:49

ticklemepinker · 04/03/2023 07:33

I’m as surprised as you, OP. That people don’t even THINK about it? We always do, every time - means we think really carefully about flying/not flying, and never do the weekend trips loads of people used to do without thinking twice.

I don’t have to think about it as I can’t afford to go anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️. Far better for the environment than those who think about it but go regardless.

Fizbosshoes · 04/03/2023 07:50

Where I live I would say majority of people go abroad 2 or 3 times a year and I've never heard anyone cringe about it.
I'm going away at Easter, I haven't flown since 2014 usually budget constraints mean uk or camping holidays in France by ferry. It hasn't crossed my mind to feel bad or cringe about it, I'm looking forward to seeing family.

ethelredonagoodday · 04/03/2023 07:52

Reading that post back, I don't think I quite got over what I intended to, but what I mean is, people who would be socially aware in many other ways, and recycle and drive an electric car etc, don't seem to join the dots when it comes to multiple flights a year.

MichelleScarn · 04/03/2023 07:58

Ellmau · 04/03/2023 00:07

not many people would announce a foreign holiday involving flights without a little bit of apologetic cringeing.

But they still book the flights? TBH that sounds like empty posturing.

Very much this!
Is it a 'gosh feel so naughty booking Sandals at Seychelles but it's been such a rubbish winter, needs must' while judging those who fly on package deals to Tenerife?

Springisclose · 04/03/2023 07:58

I’d say look at the very rich with privates Jets and multiple flights etc etc. If they really were concerned about climate change they wouldn’t use them. But they do. So 0 guilt about the effect on the environment. I would look forward to my holiday. No embarrassment at all.