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Get grounded

Get grounded

DoAction 07

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Take one less flightDoers doing this DoAction have pledged to save: 15956 kg CO2
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Value your travel time; let the holiday start at your front door.

If you’re planning on taking a flight any time soon, be it for work or pleasure, you could sponsor your friend with a generous saving of CO2 in one fell swoop. Keep out of the clouds and firmly on the ground: swap a flight for a leisurely train, ferry or bus ride, or even just stay put.

Why?

Health

Increased risk of DVT, regurgitation of other passenger’s germs through the air con, jet lag and sleep deprivation. Flying isn't the best way to treat your body.

Climate change

Air travel is the fastest growing contribution to our national carbon emissions1, and there’s no sign of it receding. Avoiding a return flight just once a year can save up to 9.6 tonnes of CO2 – that’s about the same as the entire annual emissions of the average Brit.

What’s more, the warming effect of an aeroplane’s greenhouse gas emissions is almost three times worse than that from land-based transport because of the altitude at which they are emitted – right in the middle of the most vulnerable part of our atmosphere.

Enjoyment

The stresses of flying start with the panicked journey to the airport, but continue right through to the baggage carousel at the other end with check-in, security, delays, tiny flimsy seats, noisy passengers and bland processed food adding to the fun in between. 

It makes a relaxing train ride seem like heaven in comparison, whether you use the time to get stuck into your book, gaze out of the window, chat to your friends, watch a DVD or get on with some work using the on-board Wi-Fi.

10 times

more CO2 is emitted by travelling from London to Paris or Brussels by plane than by train2

How?

If you make a regular flight within the UK or across the channel, why not stick to the ground and give the train or bus a go for one of your trips?

  1. UK travel: Check out the National Rail for train times and fares or Mega Bus for the cheap and less-cheerful option of coach travel.
  2. European travel: Loco2 is the gem of all gems if you’re travelling across the channel, a one-stop shop for European train travel.

Or if you’re heading further afield for a business meeting, could you not stay put and teleconference it?

For some inspiration on other fun and well grounded trips, check out the Guardians’ rail travel features or Green Traveller.

Got other tips or great resources to share? Please email them over to us at info@thedonation.org.uk

1 - Friends of the Earth - aviation Tyndall summary

2 - Global Action Plan - Transport Resources