The Dilemma of Flying: A Personal Perspective

The climate impact of flying is huge. In Sweden, we fly more than five times as much as the global average. Emissions are about 1 tonne per person per year, which is the equivalent to a flight to southern Spain (source: The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency).

Emissions from international air travel are not included in the current Swedish climate targets, but they are of great importance for achieving the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting the global temperature increase to well below two degrees, with a target of 1.5 degrees. In order to limit the global temperature increase to a maximum of 1.5 degrees, global emissions need to be reduced to an average of 1 tonne per person per year by 2050 (source: The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency).

So, you might ask, why do you keep flying? I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. I’ve twisted and turned it in my mind. Looked at my climate budget. Looked at what my flying generates in emissions. Darkness, cold, and tiredness versus sunlight, recharging my batteries, and resting. And I’ve come to the conclusion that this is the best choice for me in the long term.

I’m not trying to defend myself, but I want to explain my reasoning to you, because I had also wondered, as you might, “Why does she keep going on about second-hand shopping if she’s flying to another part of the world?”

The answer is that I have chosen to allocate my climate budget to this trip. If you want to know more, get in touch – I want to know your thoughts about the stigma of air travel.

Image: Leonardo Yip (Unsplash).