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one of the The happiest part of being a parent is introducing your kids to the rest of the world, whether it’s the beaches of Maui, the palms of Los Angeles, the streets of New York City, or just taking them to your hometown to let them know where you grew up place.
But air travel also threatens the future of our children. Flying accounts for 2.5% global carbon dioxide emissions It is expected to increase to 5% by 2050.Air travel is the most carbon intensive activity Individuals can do it. That’s why some families have vowed to stay on the ground and give up flying for the sake of their children’s future, and for the future of children all over the world.
As we start to rethink the way we travel in the future, one of the first things many of us think about is how it will affect our families, whether it’s changing vacations, disrupting traditions, or missing out on meeting family members living abroad. The three families have given up flying and share their experiences – good and bad – and what their vacation is like now.
Katherine Leswing, 36, New Hampshire
As Katherine Leswing sat with her five-month-old son at an airport in France, waiting to catch a flight home, she first began to consider giving up flying because of climate change. “I read a news article about Greta [Thunberg] Across the ocean to New York. Leswing, 36, a mother of a toddler, said she has always been environmentally conscious but never really considered the impact of her “flying habits”. The real way to think about it,” she said. When Leswing landed, she knew she needed to fly less. “I was shocked to find that flying made up the vast majority of my carbon footprint. “
One of the biggest challenges is that her family has relatives in Michigan, a short distance from the plane but “transported by car.” To be precise, with a small baby, 14 hours of transport. Still, Leswin and her husband decided to drive and turn it into an adventure. “We stopped at Niagara Falls on the way back and stayed at a hotel,” she said. The trip had an unexpected effect: Catherine’s father-in-law decided to buy an electric truck after discussing flight emissions with Leswin. “He’s from the most conservative town in Michigan,” Leswing said. “He’s going to be a Blazer.”
Leswing said one of the best decisions she made was to switch her Southwest Airlines credit card for an Amtrak credit card. “It sparked a whole new line of thinking, like, ‘Where can I go on Amtrak?'” Living on the East Coast means Leswin is close to many tourist destinations: Boston, New York, Washington, D.C. Now, Leswin regularly travels by train to nearby cities, including New York City with her then 2-year-old child. “He ran up and down that train 20 times, so I was tired, but he had a good time,” she said. For family road trips, they stick to nearby adventures, like spending a week on Maine’s coast, visiting Boston’s aquarium, or hiking in the mountains.
Still, as an avid traveler, giving up flying is a big shift. “I love to travel. I feel like, is this part of my identity gone forever?” Katherine said she didn’t tell herself she’d never fly again, she just asked herself if she needed to take a particular flight, or if there was a better way A climate-friendly way to get the experience she’s looking for.
Valerie Milner-Brown, 69, Scotland
For Valerie Milner-Brown, giving up flying came at a high price. The 69-year-old grandmother lives in Scotland and travels frequently to Los Angeles, where her daughter and grandchildren live. Now that her children are all grown up, she also hopes to visit her family in Ghana every year and learn more about Ghanaian culture to pass on to her grandchildren. “It hurts,” Milner-Brown said. “But my conscience can’t let me wander around the world as if the most important thing is to satisfy my curiosity and thirst for adventure.”
Instead of travelling the world, Milner-Brown focused on exploring her native Scotland and travelling by train across Europe. She enjoys going around the city in London and spending time in Hampstead Heath and other parks. “I’m excited to see the beauty around me and the architecture that is testament to human ingenuity,” she said. “There is life after stopping flying.” After the pandemic, Milner-Brown hopes to explore Scotland, Devon and Kent, and is planning a group hike with friends across the UK.
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