FLYING GREEN

Business Traveller India highlights eco-conscious aviation giants that have initiated efforts to reduce their carbon footprints

- XENIA JAMSHYD LAM

The next destination you plan, travel with the greenest airline and think of ecofriendly flights for a change. 'Flygskam' the Swedish term translating to "flight shame" gained enormous traction when climate activist Greta Thunberg refused to fly her way to a summit at the United Nations. Instead, she arrived on a wind-powered yacht after crossing the Atlantic Ocean. As global environmental concerns increase, many travellers like Thunberg are vowing to reduce air travel. Unfortunately, not all of us have the means or the time, to hop on to a wind-powered yacht next time we decide to go abroad. Beyond detrimental greenhouse gas emissions, a plane's exhaust engine creates contrails, also known as water vapour trails that can form cirrus cloud cover.

REDUCING CARBON AND ECO-FOOTPRINTS WITH AIR TRAVEL

You've probably seen the little green choice icon on flight selection pages, but it's not always clear what this entails. 'Green flight' can mean numerous things depending on the airline carrier. It can involve lower carbon emissions than the average flight, diversified fuel types or more efficient fuel consumption and carbon offsetting. Currently, most airlines display their environmental initiatives and policies on their websites. Some will even inform you of how much emission is produced by each flight. There's no getting around the fact that every passenger creates a carbon footprint. That being said, many aviation companies as well as governments are implementing various ways to mitigate the environmental impacts of flying.

SUSTAINABLE BIOFUEL