We’re all familiar with the role that heavy industry and daily commuting play in greenhouse gas generation, but something that’s often glossed over is the impact air travel has on our environment. According to UK-based charity Friends of the Earth, air travel is the single fastest-growing source of greenhouse gases, with the world’s 16,000 commercial aircraft producing roughly 660 million tons of carbon dioxide a year. To put that into perspective, that’s equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide created annually by the sum of human activity in Africa. Kind of crazy, isn't it? Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are the single biggest contributor to global climate change, which in turn threatens the long-term sustainability of the planet. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), if proper steps are not taken soon, by 2050 climate change will have reduced crop yields by 25 percent, which will have devastating effects on earth’s human population. But, What About Me? At this point, you might be thinking, “Do I really need to change my flying habits? How much am I personally impacting the environment? After all, I’m only one person.” The answer might surprise you. Let’s say you make three trips a year to your company’s London offices from your home base in Chicago. Those three trips alone produce 10.4 tons of carbon dioxide per passenger. To put that into perspective, the average US household’s annual electricity consumption accounts for a comparatively paltry 6.6 tons of carbon dioxide. In those three trips across the pond, you alone have created half again as much carbon dioxide as your entire family consumes in a year. And just because you’re not making regular transatlantic flights doesn't mean you’re off the hook! Let’s say instead that you make three round-trip flights from New York to San Francisco. That’s “only” six tons of carbon dioxide a passenger – or nearly twice the carbon dioxide you create from driving your car 9,600 miles. Three round-trippers from Chicago to Houston create two tons per passenger, or the equivalent of an entire year’s worth of commutes to and from work. That adds up…fast! It's pretty clear that excessive air travel is pretty bad for the planet, but where does that leave you and your business? You still need to meet with clients, collaborate with domestic and international partners and bring products to market, and that almost certainly requires air travel – and maybe even plenty of it. How can you help save the environment while also growing your business? Two words: video conferencing. High-definition video conferencing perfectly replicates the experience of a face-to-face conversation, eliminating the need for anything but the most important in-person meetings. Thanks to video conferencing, it’s easier than ever to make a positive impact on the environment. To request a Lifesize video conferencing demo, go here: http:/

1. Three round-trips from London to Chicago
produces 10.4 tons of CO2 per
passenger.Average US household annual
electricity consumption = 6.6 tons.
x3
Let’s take a look at the ways video
conferencing technology can significantly
reduce carbon emissions and safeguard
against global climate change.
1/3 of all carbon dioxide
emissions come from travel.
Industry, by comparison, accounts for
just 14% of overall emissions.
The world’s 16,000
commercial aircraftproduce
roughly 660 million tons of
CO2 a year.That’s more than the
United States produces all year.
Save The
Planet!
You can help save the environment
while growing your business
High-definition video conferencing perfectly replicates the
experience of a face-to-face conversation. Not only will less travel
have a positive impact on the environment, it’s a big financial win
for you, too.
LEARN MORE
FREE TRIAL
Sources:
http://www.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/aviation_climate_change.pdf
http://www.ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/sunday-review/the-biggest-carbon-sin-air-travel.html?_r=2&
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/co2.html
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C
O
O
If left unchecked, by 2050climate
change will reduce crop yields by
25%, with devastating effects to
the earth’s population.
Travelling from Chicago to Houston
3x = 2 tons of CO2 per
passenger - the equivalent of a year
commuting to and from work. 1 ton
1 ton