How do I refuse to fly for work due to environmental concerns?

[itchybitzy]

I work for a large global company, and unfortunately travel often falls as part of the job. I've managed to keep my travel commitments to a minimum, as quite frankly I hate business trips with a passion, but I am still required to fly at least 2 transatlantic roundtrips per year, plus possibly one European trip.

In recent years I've become more concerned about the devastation we are creating to the environment and have been trying to maintain more sustainable habits to help 'do my bit' where possible. I recently calculated the impact my business trips are having on my annual CO2 footprint and it's staggering.

Has anyone refused to fly with work due to climate change worries? I'd like to broach this subject with my boss but am worried it might be detrimental to my career. The trips are just not worth the footprint in my mind and are not what I would consider essential to our business. I am prepared to video conference in to these meetings, even if it means working late into the night/early in the morning.

Advice or experience would be great! Thanks mumsnetters!

It's part of your job, if you don't want to do it they'll find someone who will.
Do you really think they'll say yes, you're right, don't go

OOh tricky,
I think you might get short shrift on here, BUT: why not propose a solution rather than a problem?

Ask if there are any working groups of committees at the company you can contribute to to further the company's sustainability policy. Read the sustainability policy (I assume there is something) and see if you can cite anything in it to your boss.

Find a way to cover your carbon footprint via your company - can they let you do charity work as part of your job that uses your skill to an environmental cause? (lots of companies allow their employees a certain number of days to do this per year).

Is there an in-house incentive to be the best at reducing carbon footprint you can raw your bosses attention to? If not perhaps its still something your boss can get brownie points for?

Also remember its your company's carbon footprint - so couch it as reducing their carbon

You’ll probably come across as a bit stupid (consider that the flights would run regardless, assuming they’re not flying you on private jets or really underused routes, and even if you managed to prevent the flight occur all together it wouldn’t actually mean that carbon levels would be reduced to a safe level). I can understand doing these things in private to make yourself feel better but I don’t understand why you’d do something so pointless at the risk of a cost to your career. If you are really concerned about business flying culture maybe ask about reviewing company policy instead in the hopes of leading your industry in climate friendly business practice? That would be more likely to have an impact on changing culture than one person refusing to fly for no apparent benefit.

The flights are going regardless of whether you're on them or not. Stop being ridiculous.

Do you fly to go on holiday?

I know if I refused to travel for work I would be out of a job - you take a job in the full knowledge of what will be expected of you.

Do you fly for holidays? If so, I think you'll look hypocritical saying you won't for work. If not, then you can ask if you can video in instead, your work might not be happy with you doing that though.

I’m inclined to agree with other posters that the flights are going anyway so it’s daft. It’s going to take a far bigger step than you no flying for work to make any impact. However, could you find some like minded individuals and perhaps discuss with senior management how, as a company, you could cut down air travel. It is very expensive after all

I think there are literally 100s of things you could do that would have more impact than refusing to fly a couple of times a year.

Do you use any single use plastic, do you eat meat/dairy/are you never planning a foreign holiday/own a car/own a dog/have children?!

There's no way you can have that conversation at work and come out of it well, unless you have all the answers as to how you can achieve everything the trip was designed to without travelling. You also set yourself up for having your personal choices (as above) questioned forever.

I agree with looking at the companies policy on sustainability. Get involved in or start a working group or CoP on the topic. CSR is becoming an increasingly big commitment and it’s great you are aware but if you have spotted a problem suggest a solution, don’t just refuse to fly!

I agree that you need to come up with a solution- eg can you use Skype instead? But ultimately they are your employer and if they expect you to travel then you will have to or risk losing your job.

As a pp said, there's so many other things you can do to help the environment- many more impactful than stopping flying. So why not prioritise those instead?

I think this is a career ender, and as a pp said, as you're not on private planes, the flight is going anyway. As your manager I'd assume you just don't want to go. And think are thinking up made excuses not to.

I would also ensure before you go there with your manager, which I advise you not to of you wish to keep your job that you live a clean life, from transport to work. Holidays etc.

If more people reduced the amount of flights they took then of course the airlines would run less flights. Saying "but the flight is going anyway" is like saying to a vegetarian "but the cow is already killed when you eat the steak". Obviously as people's habits change, the effect is that fewer flights run/fewer animals are raised for meat etc. It's not pointless. If you don't think that your actions as an individual matter then why bother voting for example? Of course it matters.

They’ll regard it as you either refusing to, or being unable to carry out a fundamental part of your agreed role and replace you with someone who is happy to do it.

I worked in a similar environment. I was able to cut to 1 transatlantic trip a year (though was for child care reasons rather than environmental) by offering to shift my hours and Skype in every evening that I would otherwise have been there.

Could you take train for the European trip? And consider that flying economy is a lower carbon footprint than business or 1st.

You could make a point of the cost savings.

And do carbon offset.

I do think there is value in meeting in person some of the time OP, but agree that there are often alternatives.

The flights are going regardless of whether you're on them or not. Stop being ridiculous

It isn't ridiculous. If enough people cut down on flights, that would mean a fall in demand for flights and thus fewer flights.

Doubt that at present this would be classified as a “protected belief” under employment law, so if you refused to do the trips your employer would probably treat it as a disciplinary issue.

Your company should have a policy on climate change and what it is doing to reduce its carbon footprint. Transport should be part of this. If it doesn't it should! This will likely be part of the U.K. becoming net zero by 2050.

Collectively if the private sector reduces its demand for flights then those planes will stop flying...

On a related note this info graphic provides an interesting perspective of the different impacts different actions have

If more people reduced the amount of flights they took then of course the airlines would run less flights

Sure. But you'd need to feel hell of a strongly about it to loose your job over it. As pp said there are many other things she could be doing to reduce her footprint.

Unless an employer with a strong policy and active practice on the environment then even raising this is likely to go down badly!

I just avoid jobs requiring travel, for other reasons.

I would have thought that the issues with flying that need more attention to be tackled with is the use of private jets being used for leisure purposes over a commercial flight, rather than commercial flights that are full.

Can you suggest maybe a carbon offset donation when travelling abroad for business purposes when it’s not 100% required? And present a set of requirements that necessitate travel over a video call?

Rather than saying you dont want to fly, I would try and convince them to to use skype and work remotely. I wouod argue about cost rather than the environment.

Of course, it depeds on the reason why you have to travel. If it is to meet a cutsomer, you are going to struggle. Same if you go to deal with a crisis type of situation and o smoothe verything down.

If it's essential to your job then the only answer is to quit I'm afraid, business needs to happen. Leisure travel is discretionary, curtail that, use public transport, cycle etc

Also if environment is a big issue, i woud propose to fly economic rather thah bsiness class.

You are required to do 3 flights annually so can’t see how you can avoid it..Job pays the bills so I reckon ya need to take the flights to keep employed..you cud suggest business meetings online etc but expect to pack your bags for work flights as it’s part of your current role.