Be a carbon conscious traveler this holiday season and beyond
Millions of Americans are set to travel outside of their home cities as the holidays have landed on our doorstep. According to Kayak.com data, demand for rental cars over the holiday season is already up 229% compared to 2019 and up 244% compared to 2020. Further, many are predicted to opt for air travel, as flying with commercial airlines is often the fastest route for far-away destinations.
But all this travel comes with a cost. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cites that transportation accounted for the largest portion of U.S. Earth-warming (greenhouse) gas emissions (29%) in 2019—including cars, trucks, commercial airlines, railroads and more. Further, pre-pandemic, around 2.4% of global carbon emissions—heat trapping gasses that drive climate change— come from the aviation industry, and air travel is often the single largest contribution that individuals make.
As priorities have shifted due to the pandemic and recent reports on climate change, individuals are opting for more environmentally friendly ways to travel. Major air carriers recognize the demands of an increasing number of carbon-conscious travelers and have offered new levels of transparency about their impact, along with ways to act.
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Offset your air travel
With air travel accounting for a heavy carbon footprint, many airlines are finding ways to make continued air travel more sustainable long-term, be it during the holidays, for work or just for fun.
For example, United Airlines offers travelers the opportunity to support them in purchasing sustainable aviation fuel, which is an alternative to fossil fuels, emitting up to 80% less carbon on a lifecycle basis. According to United, it’s the cleanest fuel substitute for traditional jet fuel and the fastest, most effective way to reduce Earth-warming gas emissions across their fleet.
Additionally, travelers can investigate the emissions of their air travel and “offset” their carbon footprint, which basically means you pay money to reduce carbon consumption elsewhere and thus balance fossil fuel consumption. Think of it like choosing to have a salad for lunch to make up for the calorie-rich breakfast you had.
Some airlines give you the opportunity to purchase carbon offsets as you're booking your travel and use your money to fund or invest in projects to reduce or trap Earth-warming gases. You can also purchase your carbon offsets independently, like from Chicago-based Tradewater, which buys and destroys harmful refrigerants that would otherwise seep into the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.
Google is finding ways to make offsetting your travel footprint easier through their new Google Flights platform, which helps you compare the impacts of potential routes, make informed choices and calculate carbon offsets.
As the world returns to holiday travel, traditions, recreation and even to workplaces, it has never been easier to reduce our travel footprint on the planet. From offsetting your flight home to opting for bicycle travel, considering how our day-to-day choices impact the world around us is something that we should all do for ourselves and for the planet this holiday season.
—Andy Kough, Ph.D., research biologist at Shedd Aquarium
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