Giving Compass' Take:

· Writing for Wellcome, Howie Frumkin takes a look at how much air travel contributes to climate change and how we can reduce its impact, even if we can't cut it out completely. 

· How does Frumkin suggest we approach traveling? What are some other ways to reduce your carbon footprint? How can philanthropy and donors invest in the development of more clean energy for travel?

· Check out this article about making sustainable travel a reality.

You might struggle to cut out flying entirely. But there are ways to reduce its contribution to your carbon footprint.

Like countless other people - especially the youth activists who have inspired the world this year - I care deeply about the climate crisis.

I try to do my part. I don’t own a car; I get everywhere on foot, by bicycle or on transit. I live in a small flat. I buy few consumer goods (easy to believe if you’ve seen my ratty wardrobe!) I hardly ever eat meat.

But... I fly.

Aviation accounts for more than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions (and it’s on track to triple by 2050). According to one calculation(opens in a new tab), each passenger on a round-trip London-New York flight accounts for 1.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions - precisely the amount that, on average, we should each emit in a year to keep the planet in energy balance.

And it’s not just carbon dioxide. Because aircraft emit water vapour and other gases, the climate impact of flying is roughly double that of the carbon dioxide alone.

Read the full article about flying and your carbon footprint by Howie Frumkin at Wellcome.