Douglas McArthur: The Globe and Mail

Remember when the jet set was synonymous with glamour? When it seemed almost everyone aspired to travel by air to some distant land? Not so these days. Not only is most air travel decidedly unglamorous, today airlines and frequent fliers regularly stand accused by the environmental movement of making unnecessary contributions to global warming.

Groups such as the David Suzuki Foundation and Friends of the Earth Canada encourage people to think twice before boarding an aircraft; when possible, they say, vacationers should travel by train and business travellers should switch to video conferencing. The website http://www.lowflyzone.org even urges individuals to make a solemn pledge to avoid flying for a year.

Still, that’s not stopping most of us. According to Beatrice Olivastri, CEO of Ottawa-based Friends of the Earth Canada, the number of airline passengers is projected to grow by 200 to 600 per cent by 2050. For all those travellers, there are still ways to reduce greenhouse gases:

FLY NEW A Chinese farmer watches a plane prepare to land at Xiamen airport. For many travellers, a land route is not an option. Enlarge Image

A Chinese farmer watches a plane prepare to land at Xiamen airport. For many travellers, a land route is not an option. (AFP/Getty Images) The Globe and Mail

Canadian passengers are in a good position because Air Canada and WestJet have relatively modern, fuel-efficient fleets – one of the reasons they haven’t been caught flat-footed by rising fuel prices like so many U.S. airlines. When considering other airlines, a little research into the age and size of their aircraft can help you make a “clean” choice.

PACK LIGHT

Airlines have adopted the practice of charging for checked bags because they cost money to handle and, more importantly, because the additional weight consumes more fuel. Limiting yourself to a carry-on will save you luggage hassles and reduce your carbon footprint.

COUNT YOUR CARBON

The International Civil Aviation Organization, the UN’s air transport body, launched an online carbon calculator last month (http://www.icao.int) that the organization says will help travellers choose the best option to offset the impact of their trips. According to the calculator, someone flying from Toronto to London Heathrow in economy class will send .94 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, whereas someone in a business- or first-class seat – which make less efficient use of aircraft space – will produce 1.78 tonnes.

PAY YOUR WAY

Many airlines now sell carbon offsets so passengers can pay to ease their guilt. Air Canada has partnered with Zerofootprint, while WestJet works with Offsetters.ca. As of late May, Air Canada passengers had bought $140,738 in credits since the program started a year earlier, which the carrier says offset 8,796 tonnes of CO2 and led to the planting of 1,759 trees.

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