Blogmas | Reducing Transit Emissions during the Holiday Season
December marks the holidays, commencing the annual holiday travel of individuals worldwide. In the United States alone, the 10-day period from the 21st of December to New Year’s Day has reached a historical high of 119 million individuals travelling over 80 kilometers to celebrate the winter season.
With this massive increase in travel and commuting, road and transit usage congestion is bound to increase as well, and as a result, carbon emissions. Commercial aviation remains the biggest offender regarding both economic and environmental costs for short-distance travel. Domestic flights are a major culprit of carbon emissions, as a larger percentage of fuel is used during take-off and climbing than cruising. This means that the average domestic flight emits ~250g of CO2 per passenger-kilometre travelled, compared to ~150g for medium-long haul flights and ~170g for the average gasoline car.
When idling in congested traffic, fuel consumption can be upwards of 50% higher, shrinking the difference between domestic flying and driving. However, it is substantially easier to reduce your carbon emissions travelling by car compared to by plane. Sustainable vehicles substantially reduce your carbon footprint by orders of magnitude, with hybrid vehicles emitting ~47g per passenger kilometer. Car-sharing reduces the amount of congestion and idling while on the road, as well as increasing the amount of fuel efficiency per passenger.
Environmentally, the best modes of transportation are trains and buses. Trains generate only ~35g of CO2 and can often save a lot of hassle during the holiday season. Poor weather conditions, hasty drivers, and aforementioned congestion make it a headache for many individuals driving home for the holidays. Buses are also a good alternative, with ~27g of CO2 per kilometer travelled, although this number is subject to change depending on weather and traffic conditions.
So, what can you do about reducing your environmental impact when travelling?
- Calculate your carbon footprint.
Many online tools allow you to calculate your carbon footprint on flights and other means of transportation. For example, the International Civil Aviation Organization has published a tool for you to calculate your emissions based on the flights you take (Link). While these tools cannot stop the emissions from happening, being aware of the emissions you potentially generate can help you consider if that 2-hour domestic flight is truly necessary or if other means of transportation are available. Additionally, many airlines are striving for net-zero passenger flights, and it may be helpful to choose airlines with more sustainable ways of flying.
- Choose the right transportation for your needs.
Although planes emit more on average, the emissions they produce are usually stable and don’t fluctuate significantly based on weather or delays. Cars don’t possess the same trait. Especially over longer distances, traffic congestion and slower speeds due to weather can make cars less environmentally efficient than air travel and a much bigger hassle for your holiday journey. Buses and trains remain both safer and more eco-friendly options compared to cars and should be chosen assuming they are affordable and readily available.
- Reduce your carbon footprint.
In many cases, it is impractical to travel via railway or bus, and you are forced to travel in planes and cars. There are still many ways to reduce your carbon emissions! For cars, ride-sharing and sustainable vehicles reduce the amount of emissions you produce by very substantial margins. As for flights, try to keep the amount of time you fly to a minimum and only use planes for medium- to long-haul flights. It’s better for your wallet and the environment. Additionally, packing lighter and only the essentials you need can help reduce the costs associated with flying alongside the environmental impact.
From the ECF team, have a safe journey this holiday season!
Works Cited:
Alam, M., Choudhary, P., Vlieger, I. D., Ehsani, M., Faisal, S., Faria, M., García-Alaminos, Ghaffarpasand, O., Hung, C., Khan, T., Kousoulidou, M., Kuppili, S. K., Larsen, H., Li, J., Muñoz, P., Nuzzolo, A., Ottelin, J., Park, J., Peters, G., … Zervas, E. (2023, March 29). Influence of travel time on carbon dioxide emissions from urban traffic. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1361920923000950#preview-section-abstract
Kelleher, S. R. (2024, December 19). 119 million Americans to travel over the holidays in 2024, says AAA. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2024/12/12/119-million-americans-travel-holidays-2024-aaa/
Published by Ian Tiseo, & 26, M. (2024, March 26). U.S. transportation CO2 emissions by Month 2023. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1230641/transportation-co2-emissions-in-the-us-energy-consumption-by-month/
Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2024, March 18). Which form of transport has the smallest carbon footprint?. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/travel-carbon-footprint
Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons, Alastair Seagroatt
