Do planes emit more CO2 than ships?

Ships are more environmentally friendly than planes, as greenhouse gasses emitted when using planes are much higher. Since planes emit these greenhouse gasses in the stratosphere, they considerably affect atmospheric chemistry. So, these plane emissions have a worse environmental impact than that of ships.



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Cruise ships emit three times more CO2 than airplanes, the Telegraph.

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Airplanes emit around 100 times more CO2 per hour than a shared bus or train ride, and the emissions of global aviation are around 1 billion tons of CO2 per year — more than the emissions of most countries, including Germany.

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Shipping, while essential for trade, contributes significantly to the emissions that cause climate change. Global shipping spews out 3% of worldwide greenhouse gases (GHG).

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Finally, the plane is the most polluting means of transport and the one that generates the most greenhouse emissions.

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In the same way planes intensify their emissions by belching greenhouse gases at altitude, emissions from ships are extra harmful because the CO2 that escapes their exhausts is promptly absorbed by seawater. Over time, this can change the pH of the ocean—a phenomenon called ocean acidification.

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In fact, unless you're looking to venture from Los Altos to LA off-road through state parks the whole way—in a Hummer with Tonka-truck mud tires—driving is generally greener than flying.

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Planes Remain A Problematic Means Of Transport Air traffic represents less than 2-3% of the global CO2 emissions whereas road traffic accounts for around 10% of these direct emissions. Still, planes remain among the most polluting means of transport, together with cars.

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Comparing greenhouse gas emissions Essentially, one long flight releases the equivalent of nearly 14 percent of the annual emissions from your car. The same route, when driven, will result in the release of 1.26 tons of carbon emissions.

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The most obvious and climate-friendly solution is riding aboard a cargo ship, thousands of which cross the Atlantic each year.

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Carbon dioxide is the most commonly emitted GHG, accounting for about 74% of total global emissions, according to Our World In Data. Therefore, CO2 emissions are often measured alone. Throughout this article, emissions from CO2 and GHG have been included.

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A June study from sustainable transport campaigner The European Federation for Transport and Environment found that 63 cruise ships owned by parent company Carnival Corporation emitted 43% more sulfur oxides, a group of harmful air pollutants, than all the 291 million cars in Europe in 2022.

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Besides walking and biking, traveling by train remains one of the greenest and most environment-friendly options when getting around. Regardless if electric or diesel-powered, trains emit between 66 and 75 percent fewer carbon emissions when compared to cars and airplanes.

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