Episode 20. Should Climate-Concerned People Stop Flying?

In this episode of Eaarth Feels, Rose and Christine discuss the effects of ever increasing air travel on our planet. Their wide-ranging conversation touches on air travel statistics,  carbon offsets, electric airplanes, biofuels, and their personal experiences.

Recurring segments include:

  • Good news stories
  • Unfreeze Yourself Action Step to Create Change
  • Sanity Tip to Keep you Calm(er) in the face of climate overwhelm

LISTEN:  Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Play · YouTube · Stitcher 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Statistics on air travel:

  • During the 12-day travel period around this Thanksgiving holiday, a record-breaking 31.6 million passengers are expected to fly on U.S. airlines—a 3.7 percent increase over 2018.
  • More than 3 BILLION pane tickets sold in 2013 ( Drawdown stat)
  • Currently there are 20,000 airplanes globally, by 2050 that number is expected to be 50,000
  • 2.5% of emissions
  • There are over over the North Atlantic every day.
  • The International Civil Aviation Organization projects that emissions from air travel will grow between 300 and 700 percent by 2050 compared to 2005 levels.

Book:

Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever proposed to Reverse Global Warming, Edited by Paul Hawken

Person of Interest: Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg gave up flights to fight climate change. Should you?

Definition:

Carbon offset– a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere. Offsets are measured in tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent.

Article:

Q & A: What you need to know about carbon offsets

Articles on Biofuels:

Are aviation biofuels ready for take off?

Here’s what it will take to get aviation biofuels off the ground.

Articles on Statistics of Air Travel:

How your flight emits as much CO2 as many people do in a year

C02 emissions from commercial aviation

Articles: Electric trains vs Diesel trains

How Green are Electric Trains?

Electrification of U.S. Railways: Pie in the Sky, or Realistic Goal?

Article:   Madrid to host UN climate summit Dec 2-13 after Chile pulls out

Article: Pollution from Planes and Ships left out of Paris Agreement

Articles on Electric Airplanes:

Harbour Air wants to become the world’s first all-electric airline by 2022

All-electric aviation? It’s closer than you may think

Eviation Alice steals the Paris Airshow

Video: This all-electric plane could help shape the future of air travel

GOOD NEWS:

UNFREEZE YOURSELF ACTION TIP:

Take a close look at your air travel. Reduce unnecessary trips. Commit to carbon offsets for the flights you make. Talk to friends, family and colleagues about reducing their non essential flights. One highly recommended carbon offset program is the Gold Standard.

SANITY TIP:

Get (and GIVE!!) your daily allotment of HUGS.

Quote:

Theme Music: Song for the Ocean: graciously provided by Kristin Hoffman, artist

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