Climate change is a global challenge that everyone needs to meet. Air travel in particular has a particularly under-pressure role to play, given that, according to C&EN, flight produces 3% of carbon dioxide emissions and a quickly rising number of other greenhouse gases. Change is absolutely on the horizon, from short-distance electric flights through to the biofuel recently subjected to a successful trial in China’s commercial flight industry. These changes are incremental, however, and it’s arguable that a wider culture shift needs to take place. That starts with consumer habits, and providing real alternatives to the need to fly via current, high-emission methods.
Short flights and events
The impact of short and frequent flights impacts the total emission makeup to a disproportionate level. According to The Guardian, these flights, with a particular focus on an ‘elite minority’ have a far higher contribution to the overall climate change impact of aviation than those flights that take on hundreds of passengers. There is an imperative, then, from consumers, to find alternatives.
The easiest response, of course, is to not fly at all. Big events, like weddings, funerals and anniversary birthdays, should look to be organized at a local level. This will vastly minimize the amount of air travel required to attend, and will also split up the amount of travel overall. If air travel is required, getting as many people onto a single flight as possible will help to reduce the overall carbon impact. However, with the advent of electric flights, there may be a better way for people to travel to small events in a way that doesn’t harm the planet.
Electric flights
In August the BBC reported that Scotland had successfully piloted the first set of electric-only flights, in the Orkney islands. This has huge promise for the future of small-scale aviation, and an option for consumers that do want to make those small hops. An electric-powered aircraft has not only the potential to be powered by entirely renewable fuels, assuming that the local energy infrastructure has the potential to provide such energy, but also to power itself depending on the solar capacity and storage of cells.
For long-haul flights with huge amounts of luggage, it’s likely that this will not be possible for the foreseeable future. For short distance, frequent flights, however, it could be entirely possible to shake up the industry in such a way that electric flights are the preferred mode of transportation. Changing the energy source will allow aviation to truly spread again in terms of the variety and type of flights being undertaken.
Low emission choice
In the interim, however, there is a middle ground. Research conducted by The ICCT indicates that there are, in the USA, a significant number of low emission flights available. The problem lies in awareness and uptake. Consumers in the USA are generally not aware that this option is available to them; they don’t take these flights because they would never have thought of asking in the first place.
According to The ICCT, the least polluting routes can emit up to 63% less CO2 than other comparable flights on the same route. The potential is there for better quality, low polluting flights, but there needs to be information out there to inform customers. As it stands, people simply aren’t aware of the potential for these flights, turning the system of taking longer haul, lower pollution trips into a niche industry. Only with wider awareness and serious demand will there be a significant shift in the flight industry that allows easy access to low carbon flights to a wide range of people.
The solution to low-emission air travel, then, is multifaceted. In the future, electric flights will provide short-haul mobility to a wide range of people – but that’s some way off. In the interim, the use of sophisticated biofuels and a focus on changing attitudes towards flying is key. There is potential for low-emission flights, but the public really do need to be switched on as to its potential. The need is clear for change, but it will require concerted public pressure to achieve.