Caring for our earth and our future: In terms of environment and impact on the climate crisis, flying is the most damaging mode of transport.  One return Dublin-London flight is as damaging (per person) as four month’s of car travel domestically, or four years’ worth of public transport use.

Comparing different overseas travel options:
– flying is worst,
– ferry travel with a car is better,
– ferry travel without a car is better again
– and bus, train, hitching and cycling are best!

Of course the only way to leave or arrive in Ireland without flying is by ferry.  The most environmentally friendly way of travelling between Ireland and mainland Europe is to minimise the ferry travel, travel without a car, and travel overland as much as possible.  This means travel between Ireland and Britain by ferry as a foot passenger (or bicycle passenger) and travel between Britain and mainland Europe by bus and/or train (including the Eurostar).  However, even long distance ferries, and even with a car, is normally better than flying in terms of emissions per person per km, except perhaps for a low-occupancy car going long distances.

Analyse the impact of different modes of travel for your journey!

Great tool here:
http://lowtrip.fr 

Slow travel – the benefits of slow travel are numerous. You get a richer travel experience travelling through places rather than flying over them.  If you see the travel time not as a waste of time but as an end in itself, your priorities change, and you may decide to travel shorter distances but have more enriching experiences.  Time away from home routines can be a holiday, no matter how near or far you may be from home.  This guide is focused on international travel, but you may well find the experiences you are looking for without leaving Ireland.  In terms of work, a lot of work which can be done remotely can often be combined with ferry and train travel, and done along the way.  You can also combine slow travel with reading, reflection, and quality time with travel companions or with people you meet along the way.  Slow travel with children or teenagers, allowing them to participate in figuring out connections and to experience different modes of transport (ferry, train, bus) in different places, is very educational and empowering for them, and travel with young children in trains and ferries can be much nicer than cramped planes. 

Explore slow travel in Europe!

www.slowtraveleurope.eu 
www.hiddeneurope.eu

Cultural and conversational shifts: When you travel without flying and talk about your experiences with family and friends, you are helping to raise awareness in a positive way about the changes we need to make to protect against escalating climate breakdown. If your travel is funded by your employer or through a funding organisation or scheme, how you travel is part of their overall impact.  We can contribute to a cultural and attitudinal shift by raising non-flying options in the workplace and organisations we are involved with, and starting a conversation.  The additional time is often a major factor when taking alternatives to flying into account, so by planning and accounting for this in funding applications and workplace expensing schemes, and factoring in a larger budget and additional hours for more environmentally sound options, we are achieving change which goes beyond our own personal travel.

Empower your workplace!

travelsmartcampaign.org