More on comparative impact of transport
140 wordsI’ve done some further digging since my last post about the CO2 impact of cars and planes.
Firstly, according to Flight Pledge, “The warming effect of aviation is three times greater than that of its CO2 emissions alone, because of the altitudes and atmospheric conditions”.
Secondly, clues as to the comparative impact of trains, at Seat61.com indicate that flying to a European city emits over ten times as much CO2 as a train journey to the same destination.
The same site indicates that London to Berlin via Eurostar and a sleeper is £164 return, while you can fly from pretty much any UK airport for under £60 return. Of course, this cheapness is what green campaigners are opposing. I’m beginning to see that argument: it should surely be cheaper to go by train than to fly. My selfish side continues to resist though.
February 1st, 2007 at 19:48
Just been using your figures for another calculation, following the doubling of airport tax in the UK. If a couple decide to travel to Thailand on holiday for 2 weeks they will use 5924miles x 2 x 9gms= 53kg of CO2 each.
Assuming the average CO2 output of a UK house is 4.38kg per day and they switch off most things in their house, they will save 14 x 4.38kg = 61kg of CO2. This is only their household CO2 ( govt figures by the way) and does not include perhaps their drive to work nor, come to that breathing valuable O2 in the UK….