No holidays - carbon footprint

[Teacherbee85]

I've noticed recently whenever anyone posts about flying to go on holiday they tend to get jumped on by people saying it's bad for the environment.

I don't think I know any of these people in real life - everyone I know goes on holiday at least twice a year.

But on mumsnet a lot of people seem to have stopped due to environmental reasons.

If this is you, when did you make the decision? How do you deal with family and friends who so still choose to fly regularly?

Weird 🙄

We haven't been abroad since our honeymoon 13 years ago. But that's more down to having kids and spending money on extensions! We love holidaying in UK though.

People on here don’t shower for 3 days to save the planet! Meanwhile back in the real world we shower every day and a lot of us fly somewhere every few years at least.

I don't have time to stop living my life. I do my bit, but I will not stop living and having enjoyment.

But what about the rain? That’s what I can’t cope with….the uncertainly about whether it’s going to be fine or not….I love nothing feeling the sun on my face….swimming in the sea….I don’t go on holiday to be looking for indoor things to do….or wearing rain gear outdoors

Have friends who go on lots of flights, have some that will never fly. We all get on, none are judgemental. Some only eat meat (literally, they follow a very specific diet), some are vegan, some who use every cleaning product know to man, others more spit and sawdust. We’ve never fallen out over it, we’re friends, we understand each other and don’t judge. We do what works for our families and our ethics and don’t worry about what others do.

Why?

yes!!!!!

we haven't flown anywhere for years, and in fact never did much anyway
drive as little as possible, eat vegetarian and as local as possible etc generally low consumption
its really not a hardship
we still have holidays, still have fun

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

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.

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!

@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 :-)

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 😅

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.

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.

@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.

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.

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

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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

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