Driving Or Flying: Which One Actually Does The Least Amount Of Damage To Our Planet?

The tourism industry has seen a boom in the post-pandemic years with people desperate to make up for the lost time by going on vacation. Statistics indicate that tourism has once again reached pre-pandemic levels with $1.4 trillion being made within the tourism sector in 2023. Although tourism contributes significantly to economic growth by generating more jobs and income, it also is one of the leading factors in accelerating climate change, with more than 5% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) caused by this increase.

So while the World Health Organization (WHO) has released data suggesting that travel is scientifically proven to improve mental health, how do we do so conscientiously, and retain peace of mind? If you, like many others want to reduce your carbon footprint, then you may be wondering, is car travel or plane travel the least harmful to the planet? The answer will be determined by a number of variables including distance, the type of car you use, or whether you're a solo traveler or not. To help you decide, here's what you can do to offset your emissions and help the planet.

The first thing to consider when trying to find the most sustainable way to travel is to think about the number of people in your party. If you are traveling with multiple people, then a car may be a more environmentally friendly way to go, as each plane ticket increases your footprint, whereas in a car the emissions are divided by the amount of people traveling in one vehicle. The tipping point averages out according to journey length and party members, and can be a bit of a mathematical minefield. Luckily, tech experts have developed a carbon footprint calculator to help us figure out the emissions produced during a journey and determine which mode of transportation is better for your route.

Another factor to consider when choosing your transportation method is the type of car you would potentially be using in order to get from A to B. Of course, electric cars are more common these days, and on average, an electric car emits 29% lower greenhouse gas emissions than a gasoline or diesel vehicle per year. If you don't have an electric car yourself, a road trip can become a better, less environmentally toxic option if you consider renting a hybrid car. Alternatively, you can consider booking a plane that uses biofuel, which is made from natural sources and is less harmful to the environment than regular airplane fuel.

Sometimes, plane travel is inevitable, such as when you have to cross seas or get somewhere urgently in a short amount of time, but there are still things you can do to offset carbon emissions when flying. Purchasing carbon offsets may help you sleep easier at night as they reduce CO2 emissions by protecting initiatives that reduce or prevent climate-warming gasses. This includes the conservation of forests and wetlands that "trap" carbon dioxide. Though carbon offsets may seem like an efficient and easy way to improve your carbon footprint, there is also an ethical debate surrounding this form of emission reduction. Some critics argue that purchasing carbon offsets gives you a license to pollute, as you are paying someone to compensate for the emissions you've produced. This is why it's important to always cut one's own personal carbon footprint before using carbon offsets.

There are many ways to do this, such as avoiding short plane flights and opting to travel by car, train, or public transport if possible. A flight emits approximately 109 pounds of CO2 per person, per 200 miles. For the same 200-mile journey, a car would emit approximately 120 pounds of CO2, but this could be split between the number of passengers in the car. This means that if you were to travel as a group of four, your average emission would be 30 pounds of GHG each. Carpooling is a verified way of reducing air pollution and CO2 emissions. Of course, though tourism may be at an all-time high, there is hope in the ever-growing trends of sustainable tourism and eco-tourism, with consumers taking on a more conscientious role in the fight against climate change.