Thread by @FlightFree2019

A THREAD ON AVIATION & #ClimateBreakdown
Climate scientists & environmentalists have been highlighting the huge impact flying has on an individual's carbon footprint for decades, but the message hasn't sunk in, particularly with us Brits, who fly more than any other nation …

… A 2010 study carried out by the University of Surrey identified a sense of entitlement with regard to holiday travel. Even people willing to make eco-friendly adjustments at home are not willing to change air travel patterns …
scienceline.org/2016/04/too-mu…

… According to the British Social Attitudes Survey 2017, although 84% of Brits accept that man-made climate change is happening, the Brits unwilling to reduce flying to stop climate change outnumber those of us who are willing …
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…

… And yet, for those Brits who fly once or year or more, reducing their flights may be the single most effective thing they can personally do to help prevent climate breakdown and safeguard the welfare of future generations …
(full sources & calcs here dropbox.com/s/awy663tofy3g…)

… The aviation industry has assuaged concerns about the damage it's doing by making unrealistic promises that solutions like biofuels and solar power flights mean that zero-carbon flying for all is just around the corner, instead of decades away…
aef.org.uk/2016/02/29/tec…

… Meanwhile, while other sectors have been slashing their CO2 emissions in an attempt to meet global targets, industry lobbying and ineffective intergovernmental agreements has allowed aviation emissions to more than double in the last 20 years …
transportenvironment.org/what-we-do/avi…

… If the growth of aviation emissions is not checked and reversed, it will wipe out all of the savings made by other sectors, making it impossible to meet the critical goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5ºC…

… The countries that will suffer the most severely are among those that fly the least. The poorest people in the world will effectively be paying with their lives for the overseas holidays and weekend breaks of affluent flyers …
ibtimes.com/pulse/these-ar…

… THIS IS ALREADY HAPPENING! Climate change is already responsible for killing an estimated 315,000 people every year. The World Health Organisation estimate that 80% of these deaths are children …
eird.org/publicaciones/…
who.int/pmnch/knowledg…

… UN climate experts announced today that "the world is at a cross roads" and that "decisive action in the NEXT TWO YEARS will be crucial". This ought to mean decisive action from individuals as much as the governments that represent them …
bbc.co.uk/news/science-e…

… There are other things we can and should do as individuals to help prevent climate breakdown, but if you fly once a year or more, the one thing you can do that will probably have the biggest impact is cut back on your flying …

https://twitter.com/transenv/status/907169088631439360

…The personal choices we make are important. Making a personal commitment to stop flying and talking about our reasons for doing so to others can help to change social norms …
slate.com/technology/201…

… 10,000 Swedes have already made a personal commitment to stopping #ClimateBreakdown by pledging not to fly in 2019 as part of the #Flygfritt2019 campaign. Their pledges helped encourage the Swedish government to introduce a new tax on aviation …
bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-…

… So if you want to make a #NewYearsResolution that will make a real difference and have an impact that will last for countless generations, please consider signing our #FlightFree2019 pledge to stay on the ground in 2019.
ipetitions.com/petition/nofly…