How Polluting is Flying – How Polluting is your flight?

Revealed: The real cost of air travel

It might be cheap, but it’s going to cost the earth. The cut-price air ticket is fuelling a boom that will make controlling global warming impossible. (Adapted from the Independent Newspaper (London) front page leader on Sunday 28 May 2005.

Here are some examples of flights giving the environmental cost per passenger of a return flight from London to:

Dublin
Miles: 288
Fuel: 48kg
Greenhouse gases: 452 kgCO2
Travelling by car & ferry is 13 times more considerate to the ozone layer, than going by plane.
Amsterdam
Miles: 217
Fuel: 36kg
Greenhouse gases: 341 kgCO2
The greenhouse gas emitted paer passenger is equivalent to the weight of 179 Edam cheeses.
Oslo
Miles: 714
Fuel: 120kg
Greenhouse gases: 1,122 kgCO2
The amount of carbon emitted is equivalent to the weight of 4 reindeer, and would be cut by 85% through travelling by car.
Prague
Miles: 636
Fuel: 107kg
Greenhouse gases: 1,000kgCO2
A train would have to travel from London to Madras and back before polluting the air as much as a 747’s return flight to Prague.
Barcelona
Miles: 705
Fuel: 119kg
Greenhouse gases: 1,109kgCO2
A trip by rail would emit 95% less greenhouse gas.
Paris
Miles: 212
Fuel: 35kg
Greenhouse gases: 333 kgCO2Catching Eurostar would release 40 times less global-warming pollutants.
Rome
Miles: 891
Fuel: 150kg
Greenhouse gases: 1,410kgCO2
A tourist could drive around on a scooter non-stop for more than 6 months and still produce fewer emissions.
Athens
Miles: 1,485
Fuel: 250kg
Greenhouse gases: 2,336kgCO2
After 1 trip a passenger would have to go without heating, cooking, lighting and mechnised transport for 2 years & 9 months to make up for their impact on the environment.
New York
Miles: 3,455
Fuel: 414kg
Greenhouse gases: 3,,863kgCO2
A visitor would have to take 700 two-hour bus tours of the Big Apple to emit the same amount of CO2 as on their flight.
Sydney
Miles: 10,557
Fuel: 1196kg
Greenhouse gases:
11,149kgCO2
The carbon emitted per passenger is equivalent to a mini driving around the world 640 times or the weight of four Indian elephants.
jet airplane 4Assumptions:
Based upon 80% occupancy of a Jumbo Jet DC 747. All greenhouse gases expressed as warming equivalent of CO2.
Source: Air Travel Calculator atwww.choose-climate.org and United Nations Environment Programme.

.

You can also calculate the CO2 emissions generated by your flight here.


You May Also Like These Topics...
Featured image text: "The Story of Landia UK's growth with Liz Robinson."

From Humble Beginnings to Industry Leaders: The Story of Landia UK's Growth with Liz Robinson

Discover the remarkable 30-year journey of Landia UK, a leader in pump manufacturing. Join Liz Robinson as she reflects on her pivotal role from the company's humble beginnings to its status as an industry innovator in the UK and Ireland. Learn how Landia UK's commitment to quality and customer service has driven its growth and […]

15 Ways to Prevent Climate Change

Here we describe 15 great Ways to Prevent Climate Change. There are a huge number of ways you can help prevent climate change, from making small changes to your daily routine to voting in elections that promote environmental change. Are you in a rush? Then just read this! Below are ten quick suggested actions that […]

Image text: "Overfishing Causes and Solutions".

Overfishing – Causes of Overfishing and Overfishing Solutions

The term overfishing is often assumed to refer to the overfishing of fish but in fact, it refers to all aquatic species including shellfish, crabs, lobsters and many others. In a recent study, the University of British Columbia found that China provides the most harmful subsidies to the industry. In fact, in 2011, they provided […]

Image text: "The Benefits of Depackaging Equipment".

Benefits of Depackaging Equipment: Sustainable Organic Waste Processing to Reduce Waste & Raise Profitability

We discuss the benefits of depackaging equipment. The news is that the latest “low destruction” energy-efficient and microplastics avoiding depackaging equipment has now improved to provide reliable “bankable” sustainable Organic Waste Processing which really can reduce waste for all operators of organic waste (especially food waste) reprocessing facilities while simultaneous raising the profitability of organic […]

Previous Post

What is climate change?

Next Post
Climate Change Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ

Climate Change FAQ

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

0 Shares
Tweet
Share
Pin
Share