Traveling to Paris sounds like a dream to most but after the long flights, car rides and other types of transportation this may no longer be that dream. According to the website Carbon Emission Levels, such levels have increased by 60% since 1990. In 2022, they hit a record high at 37.15 billion metric tons. These greenhouse gases from all the transportation has caused the sun’s heat to absorb and be viciously trapped inside of the atmosphere. Airplanes are one of the types of massive transportation that is leading to this.
“I view planes as a form of mass transit,” AP Environmental teacher Scottie Smith said. “When people do an ecological footprint, they always add in the number of flights you take because compared to other forms of transit, it does emit a lot more gases and is more damaging to the environment than other ways of transportation.”
Carbon emissions released from flights remain in the atmosphere for 100 to 300 years afterward, which traps in heat and causes temperatures to rise. It is important that we begin to develop sustainable strategies to reduce the carbon emissions being produced into the atmosphere before it is too late.
“But the reality is, it is a necessary function of society, I think that is the trade off,” pilot and captain for FedEx Oscar Patino said. “In the meantime, I think we should start becoming aware of hybrid planes.”
In order to combat climate change, hybrid airplanes have been introduced onto the market. A hybrid airplane uses both traditional fossil-fueled motors and electric motors. Despite the convenience and availability of airplanes, there are alternate modes of transportation with a less severe environmental impact.
“There are other means of transportation, trains being one of them,” Patino said. “We see this in Florida, where they’re developing trains from Orlando to Miami. This certainly will slowly help with carbon footprints.”
The trains in Europe are an example of urbanization and allowed for the rapid movement of people and goods without being damaging. Another idea that has come up to help lower the amount of emissions being released is electric aircrafts that produce zero emissions. Although these aircrafts seem to have a good idea in theory, they can cause other issues which overall lead to climate change.
“It has not yet been introduced to the commercial industry, but I am certain that the technology is there,” Patino said. “It takes a while to get to the commercial side as far as federal regulations are concerned.”
The airports have a hard time switching to all electric aircrafts due to the costs of the battery and the work that constantly needs to be done on these electric aircrafts. Smith also has other options that she does to help lower her carbon footprint.
“They could lower their thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer to reduce less fossil fuels in their homes,” Smith said.
Although this is a small change it will lead to a lower amount of carbon and emission levels. Smith also has solar panels for her house which have helped decrease her electric bills. The solar panels reduce the greenhouse gas emissions greatly.
“They last for a long time and are very efficient,” Smith said.
Another way to reduce carbon emissions in the environment is by using metal water bottles, turning off lights when you’re not using them and keeping your tires inflated. These small changes will contribute significantly to helping the environment.
Aircrafts emit the most greenhouse gasses out of all transportation and are the most common type of mass transportation used daily.
“The fossil fuels are finite, or non renewable, and we’re not going to have anymore,” Smith said. “Coming up with better solutions for running vehicles is going to be imperative in the next 100 years.”
