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The Spread Of Flight Shame In Europe—Is Greta Thunberg The Reason Why?

This article is more than 4 years old.

Passenger numbers are steadily dropping on domestic and short-haul routes within Europe. Even airlines such as KLM are now encouraging passengers to use trains on shorter journeys to reduce the environmental impact from flying.

Germany has seen a slump in domestic air travel which has mirrored a decline seen in Sweden, Greta Thunberg’s native country.

With the growing focus of environmental change and groups including Extinction Rebellion along with activists such as Greta Thunberg throwing the topic into the spotlight, never has so much attention been on our individual carbon footprint.

The term Flygskam, which translates to “flight shame” and encourages individuals to take the train over a plane, has seemingly gained popularity in Thunberg’s native Sweden.

The German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has now reported record passenger numbers. Meanwhile, the ADV industry group in Germany has reported a 12% decline in commercial aircraft passenger numbers for November, which is the fourth straight monthly decline.

This argument for shaming commercial flights has some strong cases for both sides, as the aviation industry including major airports particularly in the EU are implementing strong measures to drastically reduce their carbon footprint over the next decade.

Commercial aviation accounts for just 2% of carbon emissions globally, and when that is compared to the fashion industry which contributes 8% of carbon emissions, of the food industry at 25%, there is a strong argument that blindly targeting commercial aviation which provides important global links is tarnishing flying machines with one brush.

There is certainly more awareness of climate change, and although aviation is targeted as one of the most polluting forms of transportation, the targeting of scheduled flights that account for less than 2% of carbon emissions is could be seen as slightly premature. 

For anyone to deny climate change and the need for immediate action is quite simply denying the facts. Anything that can be done should be applauded, but versus other forms of carbon emitters, flight shaming should be treated cautiously.

Flying is a relatively small emitter of carbon emissions, yet aviation is so important—not only does it link up families, friends and employment, but very often flying and vacations demonstrate a time when people are happy, sharing time with their loved ones on hard-earned holidays. Furthermore, travel can be the best education many of us can have. Learning about different religions, countries and history. Learning about ourselves, tolerating others and celebrating differences.

Therefore, to simply brandish flying with the same tarred brush is premature and sets a dangerous precedent to not “enjoy” all the positives that travel may bring.

Not everyone has the time to take a boat from Europe to the U.S. for example, in a stunt to prove an environmental point like Greta Thunberg did—when I was 16 years old I certainly didn’t have the time or resources to make this happen.

That, in itself, is not saying that action doesn’t need to be continued to prevent climate change, but it needs to be smartly targeted in areas which can significantly make substantial changes—even if global aviation were to reduce their emissions by 50%, this would only reduce global carbon emissions by 1%. The effect would also be incarcerating us, as a species, to believe that nothing can be enjoyed, holidays cannot be taken, and this great world cannot be explored.

Fast fashion accounting for 8% of carbon emissions and the food industry accounting for 25% of emissions might be a better place for us to look at changing dramatically as well.