SUMMARY
In this episode of The Carbon Connection, we are exploring the climate impact of flying with hosts Neil King and Natalie Muller.
The airline industry is responsible for 3.5% of greenhouse gas emissions. If trends continue, airlines could contribute 25% of CO2 emissions by 2050. And the fact that more than 80% of the population has never been on an airplane, emphasizes that flying is a privilege. For the 20% of us who have flown this carbon belongs to us.
16 million planes take off every year– and the number is expected to increase year over year. So it is unlikely humans will stop flying. What, then, are the solutions?
Our host Neil King explores this issue with Thomas Fowler the director of sustainability at Ryan Air, Lauren Riley the director of global environmental affairs at United Airlines, Magdalena Heuwieser, a campaigner for the Stay Grounded Network to promote alternative transportation, and Dietrich Brockhagen, the CEO and founder of Atmosfair, a carbon offset program.
From these varied viewpoints, we learn about the airlines’ strategies to minimize their impact– including the use of alternative fuels and more efficient planes; a campaign to encourage people to find alternative, less polluting transportation; and a non-profit that helps passengers offset the carbon from their flights while funding renewable energy programs.
This episode is a must for anyone considering air travel in the near future.
CONTRIBUTORS
Special Acknowledgment:
Neil King and Natalie Muller, hosts of On The Green Fence, in association with Deutsche Welle.
Episode Producer: Katherine Palmer
Editor: Tania Marien
Production Team: Lori Anding, Manon Doran, Mary Paffard
Senior Producer: Tania Marien
Supervising Producer: Jennifer Myers Chua
Music: Cool Carbon Instrumental, Paul Russell, Musicbed
Episode Art: Jennifer Myers Chua
Network Voiceover: Olabanji Stephen
