I hope you're having a great week wherever you are, and that the weekend will be even better.
This week, I wanted to tackle the controversial question of whether we should fly less to truly do something good for the environment, based on a new research report that highlights our focus on recycling and other low-barrier efforts and the impact they have vs. the true carbon footprint of flying.
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Should you fly less?
A new study from NYU highlights that we all severely miscalculate how our day to day decisions impact carbon emissions and climate change.
Most notably, we think that recycling or using energy-efficient appliance has a very positive impact while it is far less impactful than not owning a dog, giving up meat or flying. Recycling is important to minimise waste, but has a relatively low impact on carbon emissions.
The reason why we miscalculate the impact actions have on emissions is because of education and marketing companies and organizations do to promote certain actions, but also because we can see and touch a bottle being put into the recycling bin, while we cannot see or understand the carbon emissions of a plane.
Perhaps the most surprising underestimation is that of dog owners.
It is well known that farm animals release methane into the environment, especially cows, and dogs are meat eaters, this is why getting a dog is far worse for the environment than turning the AC too low or not recycling.
Dog owners can reduce their carbon emissions by feeding their pet food that is less carbon intensive, aka avoiding beef.
Switching to renewable energy is the most impactful decision we can make as individuals, since wind or solar power doesn't generate any emissions. Electric cars release less carbon than gasoline cars, though they do have other side effects.
What if you have or want to still fly?
Taking one less flight a year saves more carbon emissions than not eating meat for the entire year.
If you have / want to fly, Economy class seats generate less carbon than a business class seat because they occupy less space. On short distances, trains are much more environmentally friendly than planes.
You can also consider carbon offsetting projects, though experts sound the alarm on their low or unproven impact.
Instead, you could donate the amount to an environmental organization that works to reduce carbon footprint, educate or maintain carbon offsetting projects.
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Do you consider you carbon footpirnt when making travel plans?
2026 / 2027 Calendar of tours
Swimming with dolphins in the Galapagos
Are you traveling with us in 2026? Here is the list of trips ๐ฅณ
๐๏ธ Kilimanjaro climb on Intl Women's Day: 1 to 10 Mar or 1 to 15 Mar with safari extension >> Book here.
๐ Cuba: 14 to 22 Feb || 14 to 22 Mar || 12 to 20 Dec || New Year's Eve >> Book hereโ
๐ฎ Oaxaca: 15 to 21 Feb || 5 to 11 Apr || 11 to 17 Oct || 8 โ 14 Nov || 29 Dec 2026 to 4 Jan 2027 >> Book hereโ
๐ฆญ Galapagos sailing: 5 to 12 Dec >> Book hereโ
โฉ๏ธ Japan: 28 Mar to 7 Apr (Sakura season) || 13 to 23 Jun || 13 to 23 Oct >> Book hereโ
๐ Tuscany: 13 to 20 Jun || 5 to 12 Sep >> Book hereโ
๐งโโ๏ธ Bali: 20 to 28 Jun || 29 Aug to 6 Sep || 3 to 11 Oct >> Book here
๐ Xmas markets: 21 to 29 Nov || 5 to 13 Dec >> Book here
๐ฆ Australia: 11 to 22 Oct >> Book here [Meg will host this trip]
๐ฅ Barcelona & Beyond: 6 to 14 Jun || 20 to 28 Jun >> Book hereโ
โต Greek islands sailing trip: 29 May to 5 Jun >> Book here [I will host this trip]โ
๐ช Morocco: 2 to 12 Oct || 6 to 16 Nov >> Book hereโ
๐ช๐ฌ Egypt: 3 to 12 Apr [2 SPOTS LEFT] || 30 Oct to 8 Nov >> Book here
๐ฆ Tanzania Value safari + Zanzibar: 28 Aug to 7 Sep (Great Migration) || 11 to 21 Sep (Great Migration) || 23 Dec to 2 Jan, 2027 (Xmas + NYE) >> Book hereโ
๐น๐ฟ Tanzania Luxe safari + Zanzibar: 25 Sep to 5 Oct, 2026 (Great Migration) || 1 to 10 Nov, 2026 >> Book hereโ
๐ฆ๐ถ Antarctica: 13 to 27 Dec >> Book here [I will host this trip]โ
โ๏ธ Swedish Arctic 28 Mar to 3 Apr [1 SPOTS LEFT] >> Book hereโ
๐ฌ Ecuador & The Galapagos: 5 to 17 May [I will host this trip, Sold out] >> Join the waitlistโ
๐ด Caribbean island hopping: 13 to 20 Feb, 2027 >> Book here[Both Meg and I will host this trip]
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