There is no doubt that flying is bad for the environment. So what can be done to reduce the impact of flying? The most obvious answer is to stop flying. Unfortunately, this is not always practical and realistic, particularly in a business context. A good start would then be to reduce the amount of flights we take.
According to research by the BBC in 2009, “the majority of flights are taken by a small percentage of the people who fly frequently. In 2007, for example, a third of all flights were taken by just 4% of the population who took five or more flights a year”.
Fly-Free Week
Based on this fact Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) is leading the way and providing inspiration to like-minded businesses. As part of the firm’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 20% in 2010, Parsons Brinckerhoff, one of the world’s leading planning, environment and infrastructure consultancies firms, has declared 31 May to 4 June 2010, to be “Fly-Free Week”.
Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Environmental Management System Manager, Kim Sammut, says that air travel currently accounts for nearly 70% of PB’s carbon footprint. In Australia and New Zealand, the Parsons Brinckerhoff team consists of over 2,500 professionals. They have estimated that Fly-Free Week will save over 250 flights, resulting in 40,000 less air miles, reduce 80 tonnes of CO2 emissions, save $150,000 in travel-related costs, and equate to 750 person-hours realised.
Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Director of Operations Shaun Nugent says, “Fly-Free Week encourages staff to use office technology such as video and teleconferencing services in lieu of booking work-related air travel.” Nugent adds “Fly-Free Week will challenge all staff to embrace the alternatives to air travel”.
Overall, flying less not only means a huge reduction of the business environmental impacts, it also means more productivity and financial cost savings. So where alternatives are available, take inspiration and think of cutting your carbon emissions by not flying!
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More information about this topic in our carbon section
Written by Marion Di Benedetto
Image Credit: eisenbahner via Flickr Creative Commons
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There is no doubt that flying is bad for the environment. So what can be done to reduce the impact of flying? The most obvious answer is to stop flying. Unfortunately, this is not always practical and realistic, particularly in a business context. A good start would then be to reduce the amount of flights we take.
