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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In the US, traveling by car uses more than double the energy you need to fly---unless you're behind the wheel of a new hybrid. When I moved to San Francisco from New York last year to join WIRED, my new boss scolded me for flying instead of enjoying an epic road trip. (Are you driving cross-country? he implored.
The main difference between flying and driving to a vacation is time spent. Benefits and drawbacks vary for either; driving can make hard-to-reach areas accessible, but risks traffic and high gas prices.Flying, meanwhile, allows you to multitask, but you're at the whim of airlines.
Train travel is the most ecologically friendly option, aside from walking or bicycling. They emit 66-75% less carbon emissions than other forms of transportation, even if they're electric.
Airfare should be less affected by high fuel prices than gas-powered road trips. Driving could still be best over short distances or with a large group. Keep the high cost of renting a car (to drive to your destination or when you arrive after a flight) in mind.
drive: The eco-factor. Driving is typically the greener way to go. Driving a fuel-efficient car releases far less greenhouse-gas emissions than flying.
No airplane food.Better sights and discoveries. Driving through countries is an immersive experience that broadens your horizons. You'll make unexpected discoveries on the way and get to see some fantastic scenery.
Aviation is responsible for between 2pc and 3pc of global carbon emissions. And Ms Thunberg continues to refuse to fly because of the impact on the environment.
So why does flying feel more dangerous when it's obviously far safer than driving? Part of our fear may stem from the perception that, while plane crashes may be rarer than car accidents, they are more deadly.
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.
The cleanest modes of transportation are walking and biking. Walking to and from the store will not only get you closer to your daily step goal, it will not contribute to air pollution. If you biked one kilometer to the store, your bike's emissions score would be 8.
Just exactly how bad is flying really? Air travel accounts for 2.5% of global carbon emissions. In the US, flying accounted for 8% of transportation emissions, but less than 3% of total carbon emissions.