Recognizing that air travel is a sin, you accept the guilt because you are flying for a "good cause"- this may assuage your own conscience but I am starting to believe that everyone can find a good reason to justify almost any behaviour that is harmful to our Earth. If you have time, watch this documentary called The Hypocrite. https://youtu.be/HGR34-SOIgg?si=irawggEGRw5PyH0I These extreme winter sports champions have all kinds of reasons for wanting to continue travelling all over the world in pursuit of snow conditions while at the same time trying to change the system so that we're less reliant on fossil fuels. They are trying to make change politically while continuing to live their definition of "the good life". But from the Earth's perspective, they are still just adding more carbon to the atmosphere and harming ecosystems. But they feel justified in living their lifestyle because they work hard, love nature and deserve to have fun....Now, I'm not saying that's what you are doing at all, Jessica. But in some ways we are all hypocrites. Real change means we have to rethink everything and that includes our personal behaviour as well as the way we engage collectively to transform business as usual. For some people it's cruise ship vacations.... Or it might be eating meat, or ? We all have something. This is a call for more responsibility, for the sake of our Earth and for future generations. God's grace is a given- no need to pray, but there is a need for all of us to look deeply into all the ways we are keeping the status quo intact and resisting real change.
Thank you for your comment. A book I recently picked up is called We’re All Climate Hypocrites Now by Sami Glover. Have just started it; it seems helpful.
Jessica, I read your blog on Air travel. I am a Canadian trained Aerospace Engineer who worked on improving the engines that the aircraft like the Bombardier CS100/ 300 ( now called the Airbus 220) and the DASH 8 400 use. We worked tirelessly on improving the fuel and oil consumption for these aircraft . The noise levels that they produce are really much better then our previous offerings. You can see it when comparing older AC during take off ( lots of black smoke) with newer AC . Even though I am retired , I look at the new efficiency targets that are promised ( tested in simulators) that the new Hybrid Electric Aircraft will deliver. I walk to the stores if less than 5 KM and bike to pick up groceries ( less than 20KM) . I also plant a vegetable garden and at least 5 new trees a year . For all of the flights worldwide the carbon foot print is less than 3% for all other activity . And that number would have been higher if we did not develop new and improved aircraft and Engines. A 90% load factor triple 7 produces less CO2 than a school bus (per passenger mile flown/ driven) . Air travel is not going away , so we must strive for an improved hybrid power plant and improved aerodynamics on the AC .
Thank you so much for this Jessica. It makes me consider all that I do and don't do - I am so lacking in the area of climate change, and it is so important to stay aware and keep learning, and making the changes I can, acknowledging the changes that I have not made, or feel I can't make, and decide how God can help me see and hear and be different and better, and still allow forgiveness as I try to find new and better ways to be a better citizen of the world.
Here is a song I wrote with my band ten years ago called, Endangered - it has been on my mind for a long time. You help me bring my faith to this and consider how I can do better and stay much better informed. We are all this planet together.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Samia, and for your open heart. This is faithfulness; the openness to learning and then living what we learn. That’s discipleship. (You’ve done the same for me). And thank you for sending the song! It is the afternoon in Kenya, and I’m going to listen as I prepare for tomorrow’s work.
Recognizing that air travel is a sin, you accept the guilt because you are flying for a "good cause"- this may assuage your own conscience but I am starting to believe that everyone can find a good reason to justify almost any behaviour that is harmful to our Earth. If you have time, watch this documentary called The Hypocrite. https://youtu.be/HGR34-SOIgg?si=irawggEGRw5PyH0I These extreme winter sports champions have all kinds of reasons for wanting to continue travelling all over the world in pursuit of snow conditions while at the same time trying to change the system so that we're less reliant on fossil fuels. They are trying to make change politically while continuing to live their definition of "the good life". But from the Earth's perspective, they are still just adding more carbon to the atmosphere and harming ecosystems. But they feel justified in living their lifestyle because they work hard, love nature and deserve to have fun....Now, I'm not saying that's what you are doing at all, Jessica. But in some ways we are all hypocrites. Real change means we have to rethink everything and that includes our personal behaviour as well as the way we engage collectively to transform business as usual. For some people it's cruise ship vacations.... Or it might be eating meat, or ? We all have something. This is a call for more responsibility, for the sake of our Earth and for future generations. God's grace is a given- no need to pray, but there is a need for all of us to look deeply into all the ways we are keeping the status quo intact and resisting real change.
Thank you for your comment. A book I recently picked up is called We’re All Climate Hypocrites Now by Sami Glover. Have just started it; it seems helpful.
Thank you for this, Jessica. I agree and also pray for God's grace.
Thank you, Marg.
Jessica, I read your blog on Air travel. I am a Canadian trained Aerospace Engineer who worked on improving the engines that the aircraft like the Bombardier CS100/ 300 ( now called the Airbus 220) and the DASH 8 400 use. We worked tirelessly on improving the fuel and oil consumption for these aircraft . The noise levels that they produce are really much better then our previous offerings. You can see it when comparing older AC during take off ( lots of black smoke) with newer AC . Even though I am retired , I look at the new efficiency targets that are promised ( tested in simulators) that the new Hybrid Electric Aircraft will deliver. I walk to the stores if less than 5 KM and bike to pick up groceries ( less than 20KM) . I also plant a vegetable garden and at least 5 new trees a year . For all of the flights worldwide the carbon foot print is less than 3% for all other activity . And that number would have been higher if we did not develop new and improved aircraft and Engines. A 90% load factor triple 7 produces less CO2 than a school bus (per passenger mile flown/ driven) . Air travel is not going away , so we must strive for an improved hybrid power plant and improved aerodynamics on the AC .
Keppel Bharath retired Senior Fellow Pratt & Whitney Canada
Thank you!
Thank you so much for this Jessica. It makes me consider all that I do and don't do - I am so lacking in the area of climate change, and it is so important to stay aware and keep learning, and making the changes I can, acknowledging the changes that I have not made, or feel I can't make, and decide how God can help me see and hear and be different and better, and still allow forgiveness as I try to find new and better ways to be a better citizen of the world.
Here is a song I wrote with my band ten years ago called, Endangered - it has been on my mind for a long time. You help me bring my faith to this and consider how I can do better and stay much better informed. We are all this planet together.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/endangered/978356025?i=978356375
Thank you so much for your kind words, Samia, and for your open heart. This is faithfulness; the openness to learning and then living what we learn. That’s discipleship. (You’ve done the same for me). And thank you for sending the song! It is the afternoon in Kenya, and I’m going to listen as I prepare for tomorrow’s work.