Summary: I like riding in airplanes and to me, it’s normal. And I’m under social pressure to fly. But when I confront the science of climate change, air travel seems immoral. Should I stop? Will I stop?
I’m writing this because it’s been on my mind and:
- Posts & articles are typically about “this thing I did” not “something I’m considering.” I want to show that making decisions is messy.
- If I decide to stop flying, which may seem drastic, this will show I was considering it…
- … and if I keep flying, this will show I considered it – which could make me look thoughtful, or more likely, weak and unprincipled.
Why
The climate situation is dire. I can’t overstate this. Read coverage of the most recent (Oct 2018) IPCC report and/or Joseph Romm’s book Climate Change: What Everyone Needs to Know. Humanity is on pace to destroy the world. And the worst polluters are well-off Americans like me. Because we do high-carbon luxury things that most of the world can’t afford. Flying is one of the most-polluting activities.