I have been through anxiety attacks before. Mostly concerning a final exam worth half my mark the next day, or perhaps a solo violin performance, or maybe meeting a child-hood idol. But I have never experienced anxiety when booking travel - until yesterday.
Here I am booking travel with a group to a conference on sustainable solutions and all 15 other members from my region decided to hop on a plane. I am shocked, but then I start thinking about our ability to carbon offset and think of all the times I have flown before, and start to think that it’s really not a big deal if I fly again this time.
Then the voice in the back of my head starts yelling at me and telling me I am a hypocrite for working to slow climate change while flying to a conference on sustainable solutions when I could be part of a sustainable solution by taking the train instead. Long story short, I decide to take the total of 44 hours on a train and miss two days of classes in order to attend what I hope to be a very educational experience. Why did I feel this way? Millions of people fly every single day. Do I think I am actually going to make a difference by not filling that one seat on the sale-flight on Air Canada that is going to take-off with or without me?
In this day and age, our generation has so much information coming at us that it is hard to decide what to listen to and what to block out. In our “westernized” culture especially we are so in-tune with Internet and other sorts of media that we have the answer to almost any question at our disposal - just Ask Jeeves or Google it, and voila. Never before has there been a generation able to acquire so much knowledge throughout the course of one day. Nor has there ever been a generation able to communicate immediately with no lag time. So what kind of influence is this having on us? Do we know more? Are we smarter? Quicker? Leaner or meaner? Tough call.
With so much information, much of it coming in the forms of news, we learn about the many perils of the world. Whether it is a natural disaster, the spreading of AIDS epidemic, the violence in Darfur, or the ever-quickening pace of climate change. What do we do with this? Does it make us numb and want to hide under a rock? Does it inspire us to go out and do what we can to make the world a better place? Or does it spin us into a limbo mentality where we feel alienated and wonder how the world could have come to be the way it is now and why were certain decisions made that don’t make any sense today?
I personally often feel so out of touch with many people’s mentalities and I am not sure why. It just so often occurs that the way things are being done just doesn’t make any sense at all – especially when we are swimming in a sea of solutions. For example: who decided that it was such a great idea to use pristine drinking water for all our water needs? Is it because we thought we would never run out? If that is the case then why do we continue to build infrastructure in this way? Why are rain-catchers and salt-water systems not required in every new home and office building?
- But back to the train vs. plane scenario. I opted for train in the end because I could. For the plain and simple reason that it was physically and financially possible. Why would I invest dollars in Air Canada instead of Via Rail if I had the choice? Why would I leave the tap running when I could turn it off? Why would a logger cut down a whole forest in search for one tree? Why would the Canadian government spend 2 billion dollars on bus-pass subsidies instead of spending 2 billion dollars on bike lanes or renewable energy subsidies? Perhaps we think it is because “We just don’t have the time.” And this argument carries weight – I am not exactly thrilled to be missing two days of summer classes, but this conference is a priority to me. I want to be able to do it all – all of the time – and often I can, and do. But is this realistic? Is there a limit to my growth of needs and wants? Should I strap on a helmet to prepare myself to go crashing through a glass ceiling? Each of us has 24 hours in a day and decides how to used it. The heart of the matter is that the value of time often outweighs the value of wellbeing – both our own, and that of this planet.
There is no sense behind waste and I am shocked at how un-conservative the Conservatives are being with Canada’s energy supplies. Of course, money is a significant barrier for both small- and large-scale changes. However, given ample capacity (financial and otherwise), each person, business, institution and government has the responsibility to turn off the tap, install tile carpeting, create greenhouse gas regulations and invest in barriers to climate change. I have the responsibility to take the train. If I owned a large company I would make it policy for every employee to travel to conferences and meetings by train. And if I were an airplane company I would invest in other modes of travel and become a transportation company that served beyond the air.
Now don’t get me wrong; I am not trying to hide the fact that I have contributed 5 tonnes of carbon into our atmosphere this year from air travel alone. Nor am I vowing to never travel by air again. However, 5 tonnes would have been 8 tonnes if I didn’t choose to travel by train over 30% of the time. But even with my reactive carbon-offsets, I know that I can do more, because no matter what level we play on, we all have a responsibility to act. And if we all acted then maybe things would change. So, even if I only contribute to 0.00001% of the problem, and even if Canada only contributes to 3% of the global problem, does this justify not acting? What if all the countries of the world banded together so that in unison they made up 55% of the global problem? Would that justify acting? Would that make a difference? (Does this sound familiar?)
I am convinced that climate change is the most threatening issue of our generation. On the case of fresh water and agricultural production alone we are potentially facing the biggest crisis this world has ever seen. We have so many solutions and so many intelligent and motivated leaders that it’s hard to believe we are still living in the dark fossil fuel ages when it is the year 2006. As individuals we have the responsibility to not only make changes in our personal lives, but also in the choices we make in our work team, our business, our company, our investments, and our vote. Climate change is a multi-generational issue; the work you have begun will extend down to your great great-grandchildren along a strongly linked chain of sustainable solutions. But if we don’t start the chain, then we are never going to pull ourselves, or our great great-grandchildren out of this mess. (And I thought booking travel caused anxiety).
All I am really asking is for you to opt for the train this time. Actually, I don’t have to ask you – You can ask yourself. Exercise that sense of responsibility and we’ll all ride along together to places we rarely thought possible.
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Very nice, very thoughtful diary.
We all need to do whatever we can, no matter how small we perceive the effort to be.
Thank you for writing.
It seems these spurts of anxiety are reoccuring…. Another conference! Another travel choice!
This time I opted for 58 hours on a bus…. instead of 5 hours on a plane.
This time I opted to invest $291 in Greyhound instead of $301 in Air Canada.
This time I oped for 0.08 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, instead of 0.16.
Feels pretty good. (A lot better than my back will feel when I arrive in Toronto… but it’s a small
price to pay for making the future a slightly better place.)
Climate Forgiveness
I ask for forgiveness for my past climate crimes. I am currently spiritually agnostic but I went to confess my climate crimes in a Catholic Church the other day.
One of my 2005 Summer Conclusions was that “I will challenge myself to be as effective an organizer as possible while keeping within my sustainability values. For example, I will be aware of how much I fly, how environmentally harmful communication technology is, and where the funding for my projects comes from. I will strive to seek a balance between these awareness and my desire to be an effective organizer who is both efficient and working for global systematic change.”
I don’t know how to calculate accurately how many CO2 molecules I have emitted into the atmosphere since my birth but this handy internet tool has helped me to roughly calculate my flight emissions.
Return Flights
1. Toronto – Vancouver, Canada 0.73 Tonnes of CO2
2. Toronto – Edmonton, Canada 0.59 Tonnes of CO2
3. Toronto – Winnipeg, Canada 0.59 Tonnes of CO2
4. Toronto – Quebec City, Canada 0.18 Tonnes of CO2
5. Hamilton– Ottawa, Canada 0.11 Tonnes of CO2
6. Buffalo – New York City, U.S. 0.15 Tonnes of CO2
7. Toronto – London, U.K. 1.58 Tonnes of CO2
8. Toronto – Winnipeg, Canada 0.59 Tonnes of CO2
9. Toronto – Nairobi, Kenya 3.71 Tonnes of CO2
10. Ottawa – Victoria, Canada 0.78 Tonnes of CO2
11. Ottawa – Victoria, Canada 0.78 Tonnes of CO2
12. Montreal – Vancouver, Canada 0.80 Tonnes of CO2
13. Ottawa – Bangalore, India 3.70 Tonnes of CO2
14. Montreal – Hong Kong, China 3.39 Tonnes of CO
15. Toronto – Caracas, Venezuela 1.07 Tonnes of CO
16. Toronto – London, U.K. 1.58 Tonnes of CO2
Total = approx. 20.33 Tonnes of CO2 from airplanes alone!
It is clear that I need to seek a better balance. For me traveling is a dirty vice that I am having trouble expunging from my life. I tell myself that everything is about balance and moderation. That I emit less CO2 than the average Canadian because I am vegetarian, I don’t own a car, I try to use recycled goods as much as possible, I buy local produce and green energy and I’m responsible with the way I use electricity. That arguement don’t seem to cut it anymore….
Read a great article in the Guardian Unlimited this morning about the need to significantly cut down on air travel if we want to seriously address the scientific evidence on climate change that we are faced with, because - unlike many problems associated with climate change - there is not yet a technological solution.
You can read the full article here by George Monbiot, http://environment.guardian.co.uk/travel/story/0,,1877458,00.html and here’s a great quote to get you started:
“…This means the end of distant foreign holidays, unless you are prepared to take a long time getting there. It means that business meetings must take place over the internet or by means of video conferences. It means that transcontinental journeys must be made by train or coach. It means that journeys around the world must be reserved for visiting the people you love, and that they will require both slow travel and the saving up of carbon rations. It means the end of shopping trips to New York, parties in Ibiza, second homes in Tuscany and, most painfully for me, political meetings in Porto Alegre - unless you believe that these activities are worth the sacrifice of the biosphere and the lives of the poor.”
This seems like an infringement on our freedoms - but if you compare that to the disastrous impacts that climate change is already having on developing countries and poorer regions around the world, on their people and livelihoods, that infringement seems more like a choice of sharing the freedom to live a safe and equitable life - does it not?
hello all youth,
I did attend the mop 1 in Montreal Canada by way of flying, but I thought it
was quite a silly thing to do and that was my last time flying, (and will
hopefully be my last time ever flying).
Do we really need to be flying around the world in the name of climate change?
I see the importance of having a strong youth presence at these conferences,
but can we do this without ourselves contributing so much green house gases?
that would be awesome if youth from Australia and other near by continents
could boat there and wouldn’t that be a great example for the youth to set to
all the other delegates!!
peace and revolution
caitlin
Hi all,
These are all excellent ideas. I would add that people who want to be carbon
neutral can also offset their emissions. Many companies offer to evaluate your
emissions and, for example, to plant trees for you to offset your emissions. I
agree, this is not the best! Reduction, prevention is always better, but carbon
offsetting is better than doing nothing and an option when you need to travel.
Here is a website for companies :
http://www.carbonneutral.com/pages/carbonoffsetprojects.asp
There are tons of other websites for individuals. Carbon offsetting is applicable to anybody who uses
cars, bus, consume goods or electricity; which means all of us! Or why not
finance organisations planting trees in developing countries (we might need it
in Quebec too very soon!;)
If you want (a lot of) people to abide to your principles, they need to be
practical. Because unfortunately, not everyone is ready to sacrifice their
comfort for the cause of the environment. This is the sad truth. But, isn’t it
more useful to have lots of people doing less than a few people doing a lot ?
Anyway, there are so many ways to do it. I believe all are good because we are
all different. The more ways we act on the field and spread the word around,
the more people we will convince to follow us in our various path all leading
to the same point.
Have a nice day,
Gen
Thanks for pointing out an issue that I think is close to all of our hearts Caitlin. It makes me wonder, what are the chances that we could create some sort of technology hub that highlighted messages, or involvement of young people from far away… Maybe teleconferencing for our daily youth meetings, or some sort of speaker system that would allow us to call in with ideas or challenges, or a video projection of messages from those of us who consider the “G-hogs” (please propegate this new slang term!) too intense and senseless to make the trip. I’m sure someone in this bunch knows enough about technology that we could figure something out? That person is obviously not me but I’d love to participate from here at home in the melting North
I’m sure the cost of setting something like this up would be equivalent to a couple of plane tickets. AND, it would be setting an example regarding a sore point we’ve all discussed quietly in the hallways of all these meetings. This is a concept that the UN needs to see first hand as an alternative to constant and consistant air travel.
As a side note, the new daylight hours are the equivalent of greatness up here in the Yukon. The sun is shining and it is a mere -15 this past week… the light blooms pink and falls into beautiful blues and then back again into oranges and reds that make the hair on my arms stand tall to see past the trees. Thanks for keeping this network alive everyone. It gives me hope that the earth I want to see will survive my wild dreams.
All the best,
Jess
i think we need to look at the benefit that can be accrued out of building a strong network of people based on relationships forged in person. I think we need to look at air travel and think about who takes the majority of flights, and for what reasons. I know when I’m considering vacation time I wouldn’t for a second consider taking a plane somewhere. Hitch-hiking is way more fun anyway.
I think having 20 young Canadians in Nairobi at precisely the same moment our country’s government was doing everything in its power to back us out of Kyoto was crucial. I think the relationships formed, the representation made and the overall experience were worth the carbon. I live a very low carbon lifestyle and I think it’s ultimately about balance. I think we need be holistic here.
For the record, I checked around with Greenpeace International in June last year about taking a boat to Nairobi, which was unfeasible; however I would like to look into sailing from Vancouver to Japan for COP 13.
Again, it’s about balance.
Peace to you all,
Cam