I've signed up - how about you?

Whilst I can see this is good in principle I can't help wondering what would happen to the millions of people whose jobs depend on the tourist industry.

I don't fly anyway, haven't for years as I hate it.

Our DS lives in Aus. so if we want to see him we don't have a choice.

We have had an apartment in Spain for 15y - if I signed up we’d have to sell it.
?

We made a decision about 15 years ago that we would not stop flying altogether- but would never fly short distance when train is available (like Switzerland to UK, or Italy, Austria, Slovenia, etc) and would only fly into further European destinations never for less than 1 week- and long distance only for 3 weeks min.

Not flown now for 2 years because of Emma the dog, whom we adopted aged 13 and cannot be left in kennels- so we drive currently- and try and give lifts to friends or youngsters who otherwise wouldn't be able to go.

It’s easy to virtue signal about something you’re not doing anyway. Meanwhile, I’m trying to find a hot air balloon company that will take me to America to visit my grandchildren.

I heard in a tv programme that over 70% of flights are made for business so, I am not sure that the occasional holiday abroad is going to make that much difference.

I gather Emma Thompson has been delivering another speech in London but this time she is saying they are not targeting those who only fly occasionally but those who fly regularly and often - I wonder if she includes herself in that group?

We still fly long distance as we like wildlife holidays. And the tourist industry is what is saving the orang utans, gorillas, tigers, etc. Without tourists providing income there would be no incentive to save these animals - and big business would have no reason not to burn down the forests.

We don’t do any short haul flights where trains are an alternative.

What SueDonim says ?
So easy to be a goody goody about this, but many people have to travel, so no, I won’t be signing up to it and will fly when I need to.

I don't need to sign up.

Nowhere to go, nobody to go with, and can't afford it anyway.

lemon, 1000s of flights are taken by those who certainly 'don't need to' - what is wrong with thinking about it, assessing your 'needs' and making changes accordingly.

The idea of flying to the other side of UK, Europe and even more, the world - for a few days, is just nonsense. I know many who come to our region from all over the USA and Japan for just 3 days ... Others still come to the event, but have decided to make it their main holiday of the year and add 2 to 3 weeks of European travel, to said event- using trains whenever possible. Just think - and try and adjust- nought wrong with that surely.

A week after we had made our decision and drawn our red lines- we were invited to a Conference in Madrid for 3 days. So we made it our main holiday- flew to Madrid, then used trains and buses to visit Andalucia and then Malaga then flew back from there.

Several EU countries, including Switzerland- are making a huge effort to bring back long distance night trains- as the most polluting flights are the short ones, as taking off and down is the most polluting part of flights. Flying from Geneva to Zurich, or Milan, or Munich- is just nonsense, and VERY polluting.

It does not have to be NO flights at all- so won't be signing either. But I have had it up to here with any effort made to assess one's carbon footprint and behaviour as in 'virtue signalling'

SuDonim, thank you for explaining what virtue signalling is, thought so but wasn’t sure. I agree completely with your post. Thought the OP just sounded smug. (Not flown anywhere since 2008, much prefer rail and coach travel. Obviously not long-haul though we did get as far as Russia by coach).

Assessing one’s carbon footprint and behaviour isn’t virtue signalling. Virtue signalling is when you then brag about your decision and look down on those who do things differently.

The OP says she wasn’t planning to fly anyway, so in what way is she making a difference?

Fair enough- but it does not stop others from taking stock, think, assess and make changes if and when possible, surely.

Of course if I had GCs in the USA or NZ- I would fly to go and see them- but I would also stay several weeks. But if I am going to Paris- it is so much easier, and better for the environment, to take the TGV fast train- and quicker too, for sure. Town centre, to town centre. Easy peasy.

That’s assuming your relatives want you staying for several weeks! Or that you can afford a hotel or have enough holiday to be able to do that. Quite honestly, if one is planning just the one annual trip a year, it hardly matters whether the stay is for one day or one month, the amount of CO2 will be the same. Several weekend trips a year involving flights is a different matter, naturally.

As for trains, I wish! We have none here nor buses.

Forgot to add, I think those who are interested in modifying their behaviour will already be doing so and those that aren’t interested won’t be persuaded anyway. There can’t be anyone in the UK who isn’t aware of climate change by now.

of course Sue - was talking about visits to the USA or even more so, NZ ... surely you wouldn't go for one day ...

Well yes, good public transport is a political choice - that the UK has chosen to privatise and commercialise- with dire effects. I am glad many EU countries have chosen to improve public transport, even in more rural areas- and are now making the decision to re-introduce night trains for inter-European destinations. A choice- quite simply.

jura2 I fly to Canada once a year to see my son, daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren. I cannot go for longer than 15 days because I have responsibilities to family here in the UK including a grandson with severe learning difficulties and autism who cannot cope with a longer separation from us. By your rationale I shouldn't go? As I only take the one return flight each year I fail to see how the length of my stay has any impact on the damage my flight does. My flights will be time limited anyway, once my age incurs horrendous insurance premiums I will be forced to stop, even if poor mobility doesn't get me first!

No I am not signing.

Yet another sanctimonious virtue signalling idea .

We have a fly cruise holiday booked for next Summer, which I am already looking forward to.

No doubt Guardian readers will be falling over themselves to sign.

No

One thing I wish we still had in the UK is motorail. We used to be able to put our car on the train in Inverness, spend the night in a sleeper carriage and next morning we’d be in London. It was brilliant.

Oh, I remember the joys of motor rail in France, speeding through the countryside with waiter service. The perfect way to travel. The last time we did it, it was soggy croissants in cellophane from a machine.

Of course not janipat- all I am saying is that are the 'red lines' we have decided for ourselves- that is all. Enjoy seeing the GCs.

I am not signing either - and just saying there is no harm is having a good think about our own behaviour and see what we can do, in our own way. That is all.

If we fly to UK - we have to go to Geneva- ccan be done with bus + train, change + train - hours in advance to make sure. Or drive 1.30 hrs, but allow for 2 + parking time (and huge cost) and get to airport - so at least 4 hours. Then arrive at Luton, take bus to go and hire car (huge cost) at least 1-1.30 wasted- then drive to flat or DD1 or 2, or wherever. Or quick bus to TGV- quick change in Paris or overnight- arrive at St Pancras and train home. Either was, it takes all day- and if we book in advance, it is very reasonable. At the moment- we drive- even simpler, because of dog- expensive with Tunnel and overnight each way and we often give lifts to friends.