Like so many other things, the international travel industry was halted for a while by the global pandemic. While there were many downsides to that, it gave the Earth a moment to breathe a bit more freely.
But now that the world seems to be coming out the other end of the coronavirus pandemic, international travelling is back on the cards and pent-up wanderlust means there’s been an exceptionally strong demand for flights.
However, there is also an increased awareness around sustainable choices, with 46 per cent of travellers in the UK saying they were looking to book more environmentally-friendly options for their next trip, according to data from online travel agency Skyscanner.
The aviation industry is making progress in turning flying into a more sustainable activity through increased use of sustainable aviation fuels, more fuel-efficient aircraft and the use of new technologies that can make air travel greener.
Those keen to help mitigate some of the catastrophic consequences of the climate crisis can do so by flying as sustainably as possible. On Earth Day 2022, here are a few top tips for travellers to help make their next holiday affect the environment a bit less.
1. Fly direct, unless you’re going long-haul
Planes use more fuel when taking off, taxiing and landing than when cruising at altitude, so if you’re flying short or medium-haul, opt for a direct flight. When going long-haul, it’s a slightly different story.
Large fuel loads make the plane heavier and less efficient, so "past a certain distance it becomes more fuel-efficient to make a halfway stop to refuel," said Martin Nolan, sustainable travel expert at Skyscanner, on its blog.
2. Book economy class tickets
Save money and the environment by opting for economy class. Budget travellers and those flying on low-cost airlines will have less of a carbon footprint for their trip owing to reduced weight on board the plane.
“Premium-class seats take up more space on the plane and are much heavier, which reduces the number of people who can fit on to each flight and increases the aircraft’s fuel consumption,” said Nolan.
3. Ditch oversized suitcases and pack light
If you can pack lighter, you’ll be travelling more sustainably, and can also save money if you choose an airline that charges extra for baggage. By only checking-in what you need for the trip, and opting to buy things such as toiletries at your destination, you’ll be enabling the plane to fly with a lighter load, which makes for a more sustainable journey. According to Etihad Airways, carrying even 5 kilograms less baggage can help reduce your carbon footprint by 5 per cent, so whittle down that outfit list ahead of your next trip.
4. Throw some shade
A super easy tip to help make your next flight more sustainable is to close the window shades. “When flying, lowering the window shades can help to lower emissions by reducing the energy required to maintain the cabin temperature. The less energy required to power the air-conditioning system, the less greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere,” explained Nolan.
5. Offset your travel footprint
Offsetting carbon emissions often gets a bad rep, with people often quick to label these kind of plans as greenwashing. While it is true that offsetting is no solution to climate change, travellers opting to counterbalance their individual carbon footprint is a positive move, as long as you select credible projects to invest in.
Some airlines offer this service direct to passengers, but it can be worth doing your own research, said Nolan. “If you don’t agree with the options or rates offered by the airline or provider you’re flying with, you can also consider setting aside your own offset fund and donating it independently to a conservation charity of your choice.”
Travellers can use the ICAO emissions calculator to help estimate the carbon footprint for coming flights, and some search engines — including Skyscanner — allow people to search for trips that emit less carbon dioxide compared to the average for their chosen route.
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Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
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Director: Kangana Ranaut
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Rating: 2/5
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
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Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
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The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
