Is anyone else concerned about the effects of long distance air travel ? I am getting home exchange requests from Europe and USA to Australia. We in Australia are already experiencing catastrophic results of man made climate change . Air travel is a big part of this . Please rethink the ethics and environmental impact of your travel . Choose trains , electric cars etc . Our planet is becoming unlivable
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Of course some members think of it but it would be hard for those wanting to come to Australia to come by train…if you are interested by the subject of sustainable travel, the site has a Facebook group about it. Yesterday for example I shared an article about a French company who launches in 2025 Atlantic crossing on a cargo sail boat to go from France to New York ( but it is extremely long and expensive, so it won’t replace flights for now…)
I think there is enough that people can see and do without long distance travel . . It’s also so much more relaxing to travel by train within your own country ( or across Europe ) than waiting at airports and enduring cramped air travel . We are at such an extreme emergency time regarding climate rethinking travel is crucial
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Of course that’s your opinion, but a lot of persons also going in and out Australia to visit family or friends etc, and many Australians want to continue to take flights to discover Europe etc. The flights volume is still growing and will continue, so I think it’s better to concentrate on trying to do electrical planes rather than asking everyone to stop flying ( but I respect those who do that)
Sadly, I fear you may be right about the increase in flying. It seems humans want what they want and some don’t think too much about how their actions impact our planet’s fragile balance. (Have you noticed how some travel writers recommend flying in different seasons to avoid horrible weather while only a few suggest less flying?)
Mass travel on electric planes seems unlikely, at least before the planet is warmed beyond recognition as the beautiful place it was. If we want to preserve it maybe the less-than-20-per-cent of the planet’s people who have ever flown might say “enough” on frequent flying for fun? For everyone everywhere’s sake.
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IATA just announced a few days ago that 2025 would see more passengers than ever. See this article for example (in French but your web browser should be able to translate it : Economie. Le transport aérien s'attend à un nombre record de passagers en 2025 )
I think millions of persons from india, china etc want to discover the world too, and I understand them.
Yes I agree … many developing countries rely on tourism yet the same countries are experiencing the worst of climate change with extreme weather events , droughts etc . Do we look to the future and consider the lives of our children and grandchildren or just live for the moment?
We clearly need to find new, less destructive ways to relax.
Tourism doesn’t need to suffer if people take fewer, but longer holidays. The median length of holidays to Australia from OS is currently 12 days, down from 14 the year before.
We could cut emissions dramatically and have more amazing immersive holidays if more people took fewer flights, but stayed for a longer time.
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I agree and myself I have long holidays and Can afford to take weeks off etc, but a lot of members only have a week a few times per year