It’s New Years Eve 2024. Like so many others, I am reflecting on the year I've spent and this final blog about my slow travels across the world offers me a sense of completion and resolve for more Climate Action in the year ahead. I hope it inspires others to rethink their travel choices.
Between May and September 2024 I slow travelled from Australia to EU/UK to work, flying as little as I could. This epic journey, attending a board meeting for IETM - International network for contemporary performing arts, producing the From Creative Practice to Climate Justice Action workshop symposium in London, and accompanying Henrietta Baird, a Kuku Yalangi First Nations artist, on her exploration of ancetry and language in Scotland, was a real adventure. If you want to start at the beginning of the journey, you can do that here.
Travelling mostly by rail and road, persistently rehearsing a liveable future, this was my attempt to adhere to the United Nations directive, for each person to keep their carbon dioxide emissions under 2 tonnes, to stop the earth from warming more than 1.5degrees above preindustrial levels. The world exceeded that barrier in 2024 for the first time in known global history.
RECAP - WHY?
According to the United Nations, guiding the global Climate effort; ‘to avert the worst impacts of climate change and preserve a liveable planet, global warming needs to be limited as much as possible and as a matter of urgency. (IPCC)
Under the Paris Agreement, a legally binding treaty on climate change, all 195 signatory countries agreed to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to enable the long-term global average surface temperature increase to be kept well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.'
As a reminder, fossil fuels are the greatest contributors to the Climate Crisis (70%). Australia has a global carbon footprint that far exceeds its economic size and population - and this 'lucky country' is responsible for around 4.5% of global fossil fuel emissions, with 80% of those emissions coming from its fossil fuel exports. According to Carbon Positive Australia, 'Australia has one of the highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita of all developed countries. In the year to March 2023, our per capita emissions were 17.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.'
Climate Trade ranks carbon polluting industries as 1. Fossil Fiuels, 2. Agriculture, 3. Fashion, 4. Food retail and 5. Transport. They say; ‘Transport is responsible for about one-fifth of emissions. About 40% of these come from the transportation of merchandise, while the rest (60%) come from passenger travel, led by air travel.'
Tourism is responsible for roughly 8% of the world's carbon emissions and many nations have a tourism growth agenda, increasingly embedded in my field of work, arts and culture.
But I have to (fly)….
Whether it is said out loud or not, this is the most common response I get when talking to people about NOT travelling by plane. Like many Australians, I am an invader/settler on unceded First Nations land, live with two cultural realities and have strong family and colleague connections overseas. I once dreamt that I would be able to commute regularly between them, swanning between summers in a perpetual warm glow of privilege and choice. Now the earth is warming at such an alarming rate that I dream of winter and know to my core that there is no escape. This Emergency is happening everywhere to everyone. With daily reports of accelerating disaster, I know that I have spent way more than my fair share of carbon over decades and that the changing climate is a cumulative problem. So every ton of emissions we have already put into the atmosphere still exists (legacy carbon) and what we create now, will still be there by 2030 and beyond. As unstable weather conditions impact more communities, I also know that I am not anywhere near the first to suffer. I must behave more responsibly.
Most people I know have travelled interstate and overseas this year, contributing to the 4.7billion people that IATA (International Air Transport Association) expected to take a flight. There are an average of 101,460 global flights per day. Despite the fact that CO2-emissions from flying accounts for "only" 3-4 % of global emissions. There are some other burning considerations.
- Only 1% of the world population account for 50% of the emissions from flying (source).
- Only 4% of the world population fly abroad during a given year (source).
- 80% of the world population have never flown (source).
This tells a disturbing story of social injustice. While I don't think of myself as part of the wealthiest 1%, these statistics suggest otherwise, a reminder of gross global inequities. To add insult to injury the airline industry was projected to make a net profit of USD 31.5 billion in 2024 with a 3.3% net profit margin.
Closer to home, in Travel Weekly this December; ‘A forecasted 5.8 million passengers are set to travel through Sydney terminals from Friday, 13 December 2024 to Monday, 27 January 2025. During the period, 2.5 million international passengers will pass through the T1 International terminal, which will make it the busiest Christmas season for international travel since 2019 and an 8 per cent increase on last year.'
We are told to be proud of these big numbers, which equates to ‘good business’, and are carefully trained to be focused on growth in an environmentally destructive economy. These measures are hardwired into our aspirational livelihoods and lifestyles. Flying has been promoted as both an essential and luxurious way of life. People take jobs in other cities and countries, assured they can travel home regularly through affordable flights. Some of my Australian colleagues commute 2000+kms a week by plane for work. Its become an absolute necessity in the cultural sector, and colleagues fiercely defend their need to fly. And even people I know working tirelessly to transition our energy systems, reduce environmental impact and advocate for climate action, consider flying an essential perk of their work. Its built into airline rewards, flybys schemes and, if you play the system, you can accumulate flight points in almost every financial transaction.
Does this seem like responsible behaviour of a world in deep environmental crisis?
Absolutely not!
The fossil fuel industry spends millions to afford its social licence and I am fascinated by the power of social systems, peddling ‘need’ and rewards that perpetuate destructive behaviour. I have grappled with myself and others about just how much change is needed to meet our climate targets. Individuals are NOT the major culprits, and yet we are manipulated and relied upon to keep destructive systems in play. And now, when tackling the thorny need to reduce air travel I get all the excuses... I must… want to…deserve…have to... get to that sporting event, wedding, gig, business meeting, conference, family gathering... These resistance responses often reveal what I like to call precipice moments, when people get to an edge of their imagination for alternative action that require a leap away from current social and cultural norms and a shift of mindset, behaviour and established reality. Confronting a precipice can be truly frightening.
As a creative leader I know that our fossil fuel reliant systems discourage creative problem solving and promote irrational fear of alternatives. Our siloed lives mean that we exclude personal from professional behaviour and resign ourselves to apocalyptic visions of the future rather than face change. We also know, deep down, that facing our fears is the key to transformation.
CALL TO ACTION
Activist and songwriter, Joan Baez is famous for saying, “Action is the antidote to despair.” Without hope, we become powerless and leaping off the precipice of seemingly impossible takes courage. Facing hard truths about human behaviour driving the earth crisis embraces need for ambitious change.
And change is a process. It took me a few years to take on this journey across the world. I started by not flying in Australia, which is a big coutry with plenty of reason to jump on a plane. Then I flew part way (Sydney to Turkey) to an IETM meeting Denmark, Saving a Tonne of carbon (blog in the link). With each step I knew I had to do more. This is a bigger conversation but suffice it to say that when you think, 'I don’t have time…money…energy… to make this change', notice the resistance and try pushing through, challenging yourself to take bolder choices. When I stumbled across the United Nations ambitious 2 tonnes per person emissions reduction target, I decided I must not fly unless absolutely necessary. With determination I embarked on an overland journey across the world.
Emissions report
I used 3 different models to calculate carbon emissions as this is an evolving science and I went down a few rabbit holes. You can find links to different calculators at the end of this article.
The carbon emissions of trip by plane Sydney>Sofia>Budapest>London>Dublin>Sydney (35,564km) = between 5.4tonnes - 7.2 tonnes. That averages to approximately one third of the 2023 average Australian's per capita output.
The total carbon emissions of my 2024 (mostly) overland trip (54,867km) is calculated to be between 2.8 - 3.9 tonnes. I failed to stay under 2 tonnes and my emissions for the year are around 5tonnes, better than many, and with plenty of room for improvement. Without taking any flights (except off this continent - there is no alternative), it seems possible to stay under 2 tonnes, and I will try again.
My overall emissions reduction is between 38% and 47% of equivalent flight emissions. The Australian government has commited to reduce carbon emissions by 43% by 2030 and I nearly reached that target on this journey. It demonstrates how much effort this target represents. Sadly, despite rhetoric to the contrary, Australia's emissions continue to rise and plans are to keep them rising. Without better leadership, we will never reach it our target and for the sake of our children and future generations WE MUST!
I travelled 35% further in kilometres that I would have done by plane. The constant travelling time from Sydney to Sofia was 25 days. I spent 6 weeks in Europe and the UK, working and visiting family, then returned Dublin to Sydney in 22days with a 8% saving in costs.
Cost
The estimated economy flights at the time I was travelling would have cost $3845. The slow travel cost $6207 (including all modes of transport and hotels), a 39% increase. The outward journey cost $3211 and the return journey cost $2966, 8% cheaper and 3 days faster. I took up this challenge on the return journey because many said it was too expensive and took too long. Note that business class flights for same journey are estimated at $11,702 and represent three times the carbon emissions, between 16.2 and 18.3tonnes. That’s because more space per seat means each person accounts for a larger portion of the whole plane's emissions.
My mother sold the family home at the beginning of this year and that sale enabled my journey. I know its an immense privilege and I choose to spend my privilege on taking Climate Action. I don't blame enyone for taking a flight, as already shared I am responsibile for a lot of legacy carbon. As conditions deteriorate, we all have to rethink these habits.
I also know that cheap flights are subsidised and should cost more. When I first travelled as an adult to the UK in the 1990's flights were around $2000 return. That cost only recently increased, nearly 30years later.
A note about offsetting and greenwashing
Offsetting plays a part in responsible climate action but only if you are also doing all you can to reduce your own impact. It is not an excuse to reset and forget, to maintain a destructive lifestyle. The best explanation of offsetting was shared by ABC reporter Julia Baird who said that offsetting is like paying someone else to go on a diet so you can still eat all the crap you like... totally useless action. However once you have invested in solar and alternative energies, reduced foodwaste, stopped shopping for new stuff and seriously addressed your travel habits then offsetting the rest of your impact makes good sense.
According to Climate Hero, 'Carbon offsetting means that you neutralize your own carbon footprint by reducing carbon emissions elsewhere on the planet. It is a smart way to take responsibility for the carbon dioxide emissions that you cause and have not been able to bring down through changes to your own lifestyle.
The money you pay goes to climate-positive projects that would not have happened without funding from the carbon offsetting. The climate projects are mostly in developing countries, where the main focus is on replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, such as solar or wind power, or on capturing carbon dioxide by preserving or planting forests.'
And with growing awareness of the climate crisis, there are more people making unfounded claims, greenwashing destructive behaviour. The simplist way I think about this is, if it seems too easy, its unlikely to have much positive impact. Refer to experts and follow the science!
Much needed change
There are so many people waking up to the Climate Crisis now As we create transition plans for our lives and the Australian economy, adapting to the changing climate and doing more to reduce emissions to slow our impact, more solutions will emerge. 96% of Australians are immigrants with family living and ancestors buried in distant lands. We will continue to travel. My dutch ancestors who colonised Indonesia returned to the Netherlands by boat almost every two years. To do so sustainably we must accelerate the development of sustainable fuels to power our curiousity, sense of connection and desire for adventure. We also need to invest more of our attention at home to notice the rapidly changing environment, follow First Nations leadership and help care for Country. Making these changes is brimming withg exciting possibility. As you remove barriers and leap off precipices to change your habits, more ideas and opportunities will emerge.
There are so many benefits!
On this trip I travelled through 23 countries and experienced each and every one of them, spent locally and met extraordinary people everywhere who wanted to help me, even if we didn’t speak each other’s languages. I hardly ever felt unsafe. There was that scary midnight incident in Butterworth, Malaysia when my accomodation fell through but I quickly found alternative accommodation. All’s well that ends well. I have a refreshed love and respect for humanity and so many precious moments etched into my heart. I revelled in the long bus ride up the red centre of Australia, crossing the Bali Strait in a rustbucket boat, rattled on old sleeper trains in Thailand, walking into the vast edifice of China, roaming through art filled Tblisi streets, swimming in the Black Sea, relishing long summer twilights on the isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. I didn't suffer jetlag or have any feelings of culture shock as culture shifted and changed slowly with the landscape. I learnt patience and to adapt quickly when plans were rerailed.
Despite this year of wars and accelerating environmental devastation, I was consistently reminded that people want to do good, to slow down, to have different choices, care for and appreciate the natural world that we all rely on. I believe that most people want to save our precious world.
My 2024 journey resulted in ideas that lead me into 2025. I will pursue much needed campaigns to restore bus and cheap rail travel to Perth, who have experienced their hottest year on record, as it is currently impossible to get to Perth from Eastern states without flying. I also want the Government to approve a ferry to travel off this continent and reset the nation's mantra to 'stop the boats'. Increasingly climate refugees will need to escape other parts of Asia. The plastic pollution I saw everywhere I went has inspired a new ire for single use anything and I urge others to reduce plastic consumption. My passion for reimagining international intercultural exchange, based on developing local place to local place reciprocity, is a work in progress that I will continue to explore.
My overland journeys will continue in 2025. I am planning slow travel creative residencies and cultural exchanges, so others can join this action. If you are interested in joining me, please get in touch.
There are many incredible adventures to be had as we change our habits and move towards economic and social transition to meet the challenges of the climate era. We will still have good times, they will be different good times, more considered, better connected, and infinitely more sustainable good times.
So resist the urge for last chance tourism. Please don't take that flight unless you absolutely have to. Instead rethink, take a leap of faith on a new climate action adventure, and have a wonderful 2025.
THREE TOOLS TO CALCULATE EMISSIONS
https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au
https://climate-calculator.climatehero.org
https://ourworldindata.org/travel-carbon-footprint
BLOGS FROM MY JOURNEY
Rehearsing a Liveable Future Part 1 - Crossing Australia by bus
Rehearsing a Liveable Future Part 2 - Visiting the Neighbours
Rehearsing a Liveable Future Part 3 - China to Bulgaria
Rehearsing a Liveable Future Part 4 - The return Journey
More relevant links here:
France has moved towards banning short-haul domestic flights that can be covered by a train journey of less than 2.5 hours.’ (Guardian Australia)
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/01/travel-tourism-industry-net-zero/
https://ourworldindata.org/travel-carbon-footprint
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/carbon-footprint-travel-mode
https://ourworldindata.org/carbon-footprint-flying
Professor Jorge Lopes Ramos Nat Atherden Julie's Bicycle Julie Forchhammer Susanne Næss Nielsen Culture Declares Emergency World Cities Culture Forum Angharad Wynne-Jones (she/her) Richard Watts OAM Alison Croggon
#ClimateActionNow #culturematters #rehearsingaliveablefuture #slowtravel #culturalexchange
