Having recently returned from Newfoundland to attend my son's wedding, I can claim no green virtue when it comes to flying. Indeed, I know there will be more flights in the future when we visit him and his wife in Edmonton. So I really am a hypocrite when it comes to this mode of transportation, the one with the highest carbon footprint, especially on short-haul flights.
Indisputably, we all need to be more aware of the impact of our choices, as the following short report makes abundantly clear:
You can read more about this issue here, and you can complete a questionaire that will help assess your carbon footprint here.
Thanks for the resources, Lorne. We all need to carefully consider the everyday choices we make.
ReplyDeleteThe soul-searching the times prompt can be painful (as in my case), Owen, but necessary.
DeleteHaving sinned so freely in my youth I find it difficult to criticize my peers who deferred travel until retirement. I haven't flown in years and I'm fine with that because I had my share.
ReplyDeleteThere are ways to cut down. Our main shopping hub is Nanaimo, 35 kms. south. I used to drive down there whenever I needed something not available locally. Two trips a week as I recall. Now I have it down to one trip every two weeks making the rounds of all the shops from Home Depot to Costco to the butcher and baker. I also take along one or two of the widows on my street so they don't have to use their own cars. I always carry a book in case they want to pop into clothing or shoe shops. I cut down on my fuel bill and I know I get a lot more bang for the buck.
The government auto insurer has introduced a 10% premium discount for those who drive less than 5,000 kms/year. I qualify and that's pretty neat.
I appreciate your comment, Mound, but when you travelled, widespread knowledge of the peril that was coming did not exist. If I remember my Catholic theology, one must know that the action is a sin before it can be considered thus.
DeleteLike you, I try to drive as little as possible, and when I do, combine trips as much as possible. But I am also aware that such measures do not balance out my emission expenditures when flying.