To fly or not to fly

To fly or not to fly

Ah, the eternal question that’s been fluttering about in the eco-conscious corners of our minds, echoing through the virtual halls of LinkedIn like a modern-day Hamlet with a green twist. We asked, you answered, and oh, what an insightful flight of responses we received!

Poll results

I will minimize flying	70%
I will almost eliminate flying	8%
My work needs air travel	11%
I love air travel, will fly	11%

Seventy percent of you have decided to clip your wings a bit, aiming to minimize flying. Bravo! Then there’s the 8% of us, looking to almost eliminate flying, basically turning into earthworms – great at tunneling but not so much at altitude. For the 11% whose work demands air travel, we understand; you’re not high on emissions by choice. And to the 11% who just love to fly, what can I say? The sky’s the limit, but so, apparently, is your carbon footprint.

Let’s talk turkey—or should I say, let’s talk carbon turkeys?

You see, Boarding a flight from New York to Delhi and back is like turning on a 1-ton AC for 8 hours every day for a year. Yes, you heard right. That means if you’re looking to cool off by skipping that trip, you’re essentially giving Mother Earth a year-long break from your personal heatwave. And dodging a Chennai-Delhi round trip? That’s like giving the planet a month off from your AC’s emissions. Who knew being an environmental hero could be as easy as doing absolutely nothing? But let’s zoom out for a moment.

Has the pandemic altered our flight patterns? 

Post-pandemic, our air travel patterns have seen more ups and downs than a soap opera love triangle. The skies have been quieter, yes, but the question remains: Have we learned to love the screen more than the scream of jet engines? It seems virtual meetings have become the new norm, sparing us from the dreaded middle seat and the even more dreaded carbon guilt.

So, how can businesses spread their environmental wings without leaving the ground? 

As for businesses taking flight towards sustainability, it’s about getting creative. Imagine swapping those frequent flyer miles for ‘frequent favor miles’ by encouraging remote work or virtual conferences. It’s a win-win: save the planet, and spare yourself the agony of airport security lines where you’re more likely to lose your socks than your carbon footprint.

Let’s ponder..

As we navigate our way through these changing altitudes of environmental awareness, let’s remember: every choice to stay grounded is a leap towards a greener tomorrow. So next time you book a flight, ask yourself, “Is this journey for the air-fare or an air-foul?” Here’s to making our travels count, preferably in carbon savings and not just in miles.