Traveling by plane while limiting emissions

Air travel has become a symbol of contradictions: on the one hand, it’s a practical and sometimes essential mode of transport; on the other, it has a significant climate impact, and is difficult to reconcile with emissions reduction goals. But giving up flying completely isn't always a realistic option for everyone (family reasons, work commitments, travel desires etc.). If this is your situation, know that there are still ways to reduce your climate impact when you travel by plane.

Understanding the real impact of airplanes

Airplane travel in figures:

• If we include non-CO₂ effects (such as condensation trails - also known as contrails - nitrogen oxides etc), aviation represents 2.5% of CO₂ emissions and about 5% of global warming. (Source: IPCC)
• However, approximately 80% of the world's population has never flown on a plane. What's more, just 1% of the world's population is responsible for 50% of emissions from the aviation sector! (Source: Bonpote)
• While flying may seem normal to many of us, it's important to remember that this isn't the case for everyone. As such, while air travel represents "only" 2.5% of CO₂ emissions, this figure takes on a whole new dimension when considered in relation to the proportion of people who fly worldwide.
• A single long-haul flight is enough to explode your carbon footprint. For example, a round trip from Paris to New York emits approximately 2 tonnes of CO₂ per passenger. This is equivalent to the annual carbon footprint per person that should not be exceeded, if they were striving to achieve carbon neutrality. (Source: ADEME)

These figures are not intended to make anyone feel guilty, but to help establish a framework. The airplane concentrates a large number of emissions on a small number of users.

Some ways to limit its impact without grounding the plane

Before discussing the different ways to reduce its impact, it seems important to remember that the most effective lever remains to avoid flying as much as possible, and to favor more environmentally-friendly modes of transport, such as trains.

At HomeExchange, we are convinced that traveling differently does not mean giving up on pleasure or discovery.

1. The most effective action: reduce the frequency of your long-haul flights

If you were to remember only one suggestion, this would be it.

The majority of aviation’s climate impact comes from long-haul flights, so you could simply start by spacing out your major trips. You could, for example, choose to take a long trip every two years instead of one per year. This will immediately reduce your impact by almost half.

2. Focus on "slow travel" by air

Going away less often, also goes hand-in-hand with staying longer. For example, rather than taking two 10-day trips to the other side of the world, the ideal would be to take only one trip and stay there for three weeks or a month.

This limits air travel, while allowing a true immersion in local cultures, far from simply ticking things off your tourist "checklists".

3. Traveling less far: what if we reconsidered the notion of escape?

A change of scenery is often associated with distance. But unfortunately, your carbon footprint increases very rapidly with the number of kilometers traveled...

Comparison of orders of magnitude, according to calculations by ADEME:

• Short-haul flight: 150 to 300 kg CO₂ per round trip, per passenger.
• Long-haul flight: 1.5 to 3 tonnes CO₂ per round trip, per passenger.

So, even though it may seem counterintuitive from an emissions reduction perspective, it is still better to make two short-haul trips close together, rather than one long-haul trip.

Traveling closer to home also offers the opportunity to (re)discover destinations accessible in just a few hours' flight (or even by train). Whether you are in the world, there are plenty of alternatives to replace your long-haul flight with an equally attractive destination.

4. A top to consider: opt for direct flights

Not all flights are created equal, even over the same distance. Indeed, a large part of an airplane’s fuel consumption takes place during takeoff and landing. Which means a flight with a stopover inevitably consumes more fuel than a direct flight.

Furthermore, some stopovers are often unusual, even absurd, and considerably lengthen the journey for economic reasons. If the number of kilometers traveled is much higher, CO₂ emissions also skyrocket.

Whenever possible, choosing a direct flight is therefore always the best option to limit your carbon footprint.

5. Traveling in economy class: the most economical choice

Choosing economy class is a simple way to reduce your impact. That’s because the seats in business class and first class are not only heavier, but also wider, which contributes to reducing the number of passengers per plane. Furthermore, these cabins generally have a lower occupancy rate than the other classes.

For most travelers, business class is simply not an option. The great news is that climate responsibility aligns with economic reality, as you can save money by making these small changes.

6. Traveling light: an underestimated factor

We don't always think about it, but the weight you are taking onto an airplane directly influences fuel consumption. The heavier an airplane is, the more kerosene it burns.

As travelers, we should avoid checked baggage whenever possible, and limit unnecessary items such as extra shoes, and "just in case" items. When considering your individual flight, the impact of your extra bag may seem modest. But scale this up to include millions of passengers per year, and this represents thousands of additional tons of fuel.

While it is obviously not the most effective strategy to reducing your personal carbon footprint (in comparison to reducing frequency or distances), this is an easy action to implement - and every little gesture helps!

7. Can we choose our airline "better"?

Choosing an airline can, to some extent, help reduce your overall impact. But it is not always a truly effective strategy.

Several factors influence carbon footprint, such as:

• The age of the airplanes (newer planes are less fuel-intensive).
• Which airplanes have the best fill rate.
• The use of eco-piloting techniques (optimization of certain practices resulting in fuel consumption).

Choosing a "better" airline can be useful when a flight is unavoidable, but avoiding a flight or traveling a shorter distance is much more effective.

8. What about the “green” plane?

Biofuels, synthetic fuels, hydrogen… These proposals put forward by the aeronautics industry for a “green” aircraft with low carbon emissions are necessary, but are they really sufficient to reconcile air travel and climate change?

In any case, these innovations present some structural limits:

• Limited resources.
• High costs.
• Conflicts of use with food, industry or heating. For example, it would be necessary to dedicate immense agricultural areas to produce biofuels.

Even in optimistic scenarios, sustainable fuels will not decarbonize the sector or offset the growth in air traffic. It’s possible that technology will help in the future, but nothing will ever be as effective as moderating your usage of air travel.

9. Carbon offsetting: a strategy that needs to be nuanced

Offsetting one's emissions can make sense, but under certain conditions:

• It is important to understand that this does not erase emissions, but finances reduction projects elsewhere.
• It is necessary to choose serious and verified projects, as "Greenwashing" is unfortunately common when discussing carbon offsetting.
• It is essential to avoid turning carbon offsetting into a "license" to fly more often.

Carbon offsetting can be seen as a last resort, but is not a truly effective lever for reducing one's footprint.

10. Bonus: opt for the train when this alternative exists

The advantage from a climatic point of view is undeniable, so when the train is an option, it’s definitely worth considering.

When possible, consider choosing the train (especially for travel within your region, or to nearby countries):

• A stopover in an interesting city can transform a journey into a true experience.
• And a slightly longer journey time can also be part of the journey. Comfort, the possibility of working or reading, watching the landscape go by etc. are all key advantages that allow the journey to be placed at the heart of your adventure.

To go further: calculate the carbon footprint of your journeys

Curious to know the impact of your travels?

Thanks to the calculator on the ADEME (Agency for Ecological Transition) website, you can calculate your vacation’s carbon footprint depending on the mode of transport, based on a specific distance or route. These values are expressed per person.

Conclusion

After the sharp drop in air traffic during Covid, aviation is now experiencing a quick recovery, and even an explosion in some regions. As such, every individual decision counts.

Limiting your impact when flying doesn't mean giving up on travel. It means:

• Traveling less often, but better.
• Sometimes going less far.
• Choosing alternatives when they exist.

We are aware that the transition will not happen overnight and that it does not depend solely on our individual choices. But every decision is real, and adds to our collective impact.

Don’t forget that the goal is not always to aim for perfection, but to reduce our footprint as much as possible. With more of us moving in the right direction, we can magnify our positive effects, and the more they will be felt by everyone.

So, before buying your plane tickets, take the time to ask yourself the right questions:

• Is my trip really worth it?
• Is there an alternative to flying in order to get to my destination (train, bus, carpooling…)?
• Is there a destination closer to home that I would like just as much?