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Robert McLachlan's avatar

Good article Melanie. Work-related travel is one of the easiest areas to cut back on - many large employers now measure their carbon and have targets in place. Plus, flying is expensive, another reason to cut back. Online and hybrid meetings also make it much easier for people from all around the world to attend.

Two things about aviation need more publicity - the huge growth that the industry is planning, e.g. doubling or tripling air travel by 2050 (and then what?) and its inequality - most flying is done by a small number of rich people, even in rich countries. Commentators are quick to say that a petrol/carbon tax is unfair to poor people because "everyone needs to drive", and there is some merit to that because of the present transport system. But for flying it's the other way around. A frequent flyer tax would be highly progressive, reduce demand, and pay for expensive new technology (if it ever materialises).

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Stephanie Losi's avatar

This is a great article, Melanie. I also am still flying, and I think most who have the means will continue to fly, so I love that you focused on how contrail reduction is feasible and could slash the worst part of emissions. And Robert's comment about a frequent flyer carbon tax is great, as long as those funds go toward developing hydrogen or high-efficiency fleets.

Here are some other travel tips I've researched lately, since I do want to try to reduce emissions:

- Some planes like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 are about 20% more efficient than average. There's a handy chart here comparing lots of today's popular planes on kg/hr fuel consumption: https://alliknowaviation.com/2019/12/14/fuel-consumption-aircraft/

- Flying nonstop is better if you can swing the cost and if the distance doesn't pose a danger of DVTs (blood clots), since the most fuel-intensive stages of flight are takeoff and landing.

- I'm going to start looking for opportunities to tack on personal vacation before or after conferences, since I'll have already gone 80% or more of the distance and might as well get the most I can from the trip, rather than making two separate ones.

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