Hello everyone,

1. Savvy Film Club (online & FREE!)
2. Possible solutions to the high carbon emissions of air travel
3. Great train travel website!
4. What does “local” mean to you?
5. What are you growing in?

1. Savvy Film Club (online & FREE!):

On Tuesday 9th June (tomorrow) we are screening a documentary (approx 50 minutes) which examines air travel.

This documentary looks at the current (pre-covid) system, take a peek at electric aeroplane technology and possible solutions to how we can travel. Ultimately, the questions we will be asking is can we evolve our air travel to be more environmentally friendly? 

An interesting look at the tech of aeroplanes, air transport systems and what China is doing that we can learn lessons from. This is a great one for fans of aeroplanes, fans of holidays, those not so keen on air pollution and anyone who flies. 

After the film there will be an opportunity to have a discussion within the comments on the facebook event page. If you would like to watch this film with us could you please let us know by:

• emailing ruth.ecosavvy@gmail.com
• click “Going” or “Reserve a spot” on the facebook event

We will then be in touch on TUESDAY (tomorrow) with instructions of how to watch the film for free. Hope to (virtually) see you there!

2. Possible solutions to the high carbon emissions of air travel:

“If the aviation industry was a country, it would rank among the world’s top 10 emitters of carbon dioxide. Aviation emissions have risen by 70 per cent since 2005 and as demand increases in rich and poorer countries, they’re forecast to increase by between 300 per cent and 700 per cent by 2050. 

Most plane passengers are already relatively wealthy. Only 18 per cent of the world’s population has ever flown and in any given year, an elite 3 per cent of the world flies. That’s about 230 million people, but flights carried 4 billion passengers in 2017. So the average flyer takes eight return flights and aeroplanes rack up 7 trillion air miles each year.”

from article “How will we travel the world in 2050?”

But what can we do about it?

The documentary this week will look at some of the options that the travel industry can use to work towards reducing the carbon outputs of the industry. These and other options include:

• electric aeroplanes
• carbon offsetting
• using biofuels
• frequent flyer tax/emissions trading
• air passenger duty (taxing air travel)
• specifying the carbon cost of flights on adverts and “eco-labelling“
• making changes to the altitudes at which aircrafts fly
• replacing shorter/domestic flights with high speed train travel
• flight rationing
• the new phenomenon of “flight shaming”, which gave birth to “train brag”!
• bring back the ZEPPELIN!?

As you can see from the above list (which is by no means exhaustive!), the issue of the high price paid by the environment for air travel has been widely acknowledged, with many options considered for how to address this.

Of course, whilst we are living in a Covid restricted world, many planes have been grounded and the effect of greenhouse gas emissions has been stark:

We all know that flying is bad for the environment: 

The above image shows the nitrogen oxide emissions from China in January and then February this year.

Here we can see the huge change in air traffic in Europe last year:

Compared with the same time this year:

The above are screenshots taken from an interactive video showing flight traffic which can be seen here.

We are now seeing the benefits of reduced carbon emissions, noise pollution and air pollution (which is linked to 7 million annual deaths globally each year).

Unfortunately this does not mean that the issue has been solved and that climate change has been “fixed” and we face a very real risk that as we return to a more “normal” way of life after coronavirus we will also return to high levels of air travel consumption.

Sadly, recent data has shown that China’s air pollution has already returned to pre-Covid levels.

In modern life many of us have enjoyed the benefits of affordable air travel whether that is to go on holiday, to travel for work, or to visit family in different countries. But surely now is the time to ask ourselves how to evolve how we travel in a way that is kindest to our planet and future generations?

We would love it if you joined us for the film screening tomorrow and especially the online discussion afterwards – https://www.facebook.com/events/245415106886615/

3. Great train travel website!:

The site is a mass of train travel knowledge packed with practical information, photographs, insider tips and links to timetables and tickets.

Warning: You will fall in love with train travel.

4. What does “local” mean to you?:

Eco Savvy are putting together a short clip in celebration of World Localization Day on the 21st of June. This will include pictures, quotes, & video clips of what local means to Arran residents!

We would love it if you could send us a message to tell us what local means to you? We’d be delighted to receive any accompanying content to illustrate your quote! – Send your responses to charlotte.ecosavvy@gmail.com 🙂

5. What are you growing in?: