I contend that as atmospheric CO2 levels are now at nearly 400ppm, a ‘line in the sand’ which if crossed, is likely to have some very profound and non-linear effects on climate and weather patterns, that we should STOP FLYING as it is not essential to a happy and fulfilling life. I agree that flying only currently emits a small proportion of current CO2 emissions, but you don’t mention NOx multipliers, ie the much more damaging effects that other combustion products have in the upper atmosphere where long haul passengers dump their waste (words chosen deliberately!).

Flying is only one of the things that the planet doesn’t need, I also condem the meat industry for being wasteful of resources (ie the 16 kg of grain the beef animal needs to make 1kg beef) and the huge amount of methane a bovine emits every day (estimates 400 to 600 litres/day, compared to a very farty vegetarian human, max 15 litres/day) and there’s a long list of completely unneccessary activities which we over-numerous humans do which are damaging the potential ability of our grandchildren’s grandchildren to live happy, satisfying, healthy lives…

Climate change will destroy mopane woodland. So by contributing to climate change, you are destroying not just that ecosystem but others around the world. I have given up flying (I did fly several times in my teens and early 20’s but haven’t flown for over 10 years and have publically comitted never to fly again. I gave up meat more than 20 years ago, although not for climate reasons. I also measure my carbon footprint (go on the Oxfam website and search my name!) and don’t think offsetting is the answer… I think that there is still an attitude of ‘I’ll buy my right to pollute’.. and I have done a lot of research into offsetting as I had to present a pro-offsetting argument in a public meeting earlier this year…

But Ralph, I’m glad you are contributing to the discussion about these important issues. Keep debating them, try to fly less and encourage virtual tourism, ie through films, tv, photographs, web. It’s, on balance, a lower carbon alternative!

John Cossham, York UK