The CEO of Lufthansa wants to ban low airfares ‘for the environment’ (not to get rid of low cost competitors). The CEO of Wizz Air wants to ban business class because business class takes up more space on planes, so is more ‘responsible’ for carbon emissions (not to get rid of competitors that rely on premium passenger revenue when his airline doesn’t offer business class). Moral grandstanding for me, but not for thee.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg won’t fly. She’s a key part of the flight shaming movement in Europe. She takes boats when visiting the U.S. In Europe she takes the train. The 16 year old says her childhood has been stolen because the world isn’t taking climate change seriously enough. Indeed she is celebrated on multiple continents.
Ms. Thunberg wants you to know that she suffers for our sins. She tweeted a photo of herself sitting on the floor of a train, implying she’d have to sit on the floor all the way home to Madrid.
Traveling on overcrowded trains through Germany. And I’m finally on my way home! pic.twitter.com/ssfLCPsR8o
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 14, 2019
The German train operator responded “It would have been even nicer if you had also reported how friendly and competent you were looked after by our team at your seat in first class.”
Time‘s Person of The Year backtracked, reminding that overcrowded trains are good I guess because that means a lot of people aren’t flying.
Our train from Basel was taken out of traffic. So we sat on the floor on 2 different trains. After Göttingen I got a seat.This is no problem of course and I never said it was. Overcrowded trains is a great sign because it means the demand for train travel is high!
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 15, 2019
According to a statement from Deutsche Bahn AG, “Thunberg had a seat in first class between Kassel and Hamburg and that other members of her team were already sitting in first class from Frankfurt onwards.” (Emphasis mine.) The religious undertones of her approach aren’t an accident, by the way.
None of which should be taken to lessen the significance of the issue at hand, even if I’d differ in approach from the young woman who has become famous for the way she lectures the world. Global warming is a problem. It’s going to affect the world in a variety of ways (and not in the same way everywhere). You don’t have to trust climate models to believe this, though the worst case scenarios are scary even if they’re unlikely.
No one has real plans that are both feasible and ambitious enough to do anything about it. We could adopt all the recommended changes in the West and – taking the threat seriously – that wouldn’t be enough to make up for emissions elsewhere in the world. So my own hope is for enough broad based economic growth in the world, so that everyone can take the issue seriously, and for technological progress so that the tradeoffs involved especially for the least well off are manageable.
Air travel, though, remains a small part of global emissions. Economic growth, made possible by travel, is a crucial part of the solution. And the airline industry is among the better ones for making progress with its emissions.
Gary – this has been debunked in German media, and DB is ridiculed. She was sitting on the floor for the first leg of her journey. She was sitting in first for the second leg. Really wish you weren’t propagating obvious falsehoods.
I’m not really sure what the point of this post was. Was it just for the sake of being written? Because there’s no actual tangible conclusion one can draw from your writing.
You are making fun of a child. You may not agree with her. I don’t tend to. But she’s just a kid. It doesn’t look the same to watch you make fun of AA or Lufthansa as a teenager. Adults have decided to raise her status more than it should be. That’s their fault. She remains just a child.
@Oliver – sorry but her entourage was in first class she was choosing to take the floor
@Emily – I’m responding to an international celebrity and spokesperson on a major issue of international concern who is supported by a team including that was traveling with her.
“No one has real plans that are both feasible and ambitious enough to do anything about it. We could adopt all the recommended changes in the West and – taking the threat seriously – that wouldn’t be enough to make up for emissions elsewhere in the world. So my own hope is for enough broad based economic growth in the world, so that everyone can take the issue seriously, and for technological progress so that the tradeoffs involved especially for the least well off are manageable.”
There’s nothing we can do (within the incredibly narrow boundary of “feasible”, i.e. no changes for the existing winners in society), and even if we did anything it wouldn’t matter, so let’s just hope that a magic technology to make everything painless appears while we dig ourselves deeper into the hole…
The technology to dramatically reduce carbon emissions (nuclear power, high-speed rail, useful public transportation, more fuel efficient vehicles) has been available since the early 1970s. These, combined with some changes in agricultural and foreign aid policies could have made a massive difference over the last 30 years (and still can). Instead, the ‘appeal to futility’ folks like Gary preferred massive state aid to the most polluting industries and now that the problem can’t be ignored whine with excuses.
But at least we can fly to Singapore while eating medium-quality food and dissect the champagne choices…. you know, the things that really matter in life.
@Bogdan – I’m sorry if I didn’t spell it out for you
Seems pretty one sided of you and really beneath you. Your ” even if I’d differ in approach” – what approach?
I see you making money and providing service to us who click but what have YOU done about climate change other than criticize someone who is doing more than making money?
And this is Times Person of the year?? good for her to stand up for what she believes, but just like every other teenager they post photos on social that paints a narrative
Person of the year/People of the year should be the kids of Hong Kong! They are the kids who’s future are threatened!!!
Surprise surprise. Another whinny points and miles blogger who’s trade is coming under threat from a minor. Tell me do you routinely bully 16 year old girls in person too or just behind a computer?
So sanctimonious (and, it seems, manipulative) for one so young. She will go far!
Gary-
You forgot the affiliate links.
100% agree. Such a trumped up “activist”
Love being scolded by a child who offers no real insight or solutions.
@Gary,
A hack job mixed with a word salad about global warming. You can choose to be productive in life.
“my own hope is for enough broad based economic growth in the world, so that everyone can take the issue seriously, and for technological progress so that the tradeoffs involved especially for the least well off are manageable.”
Makes no sense. Hope is not a plan. What is the tradoff to being below water?
@Luis – how is she being bullied?
@ABC – point is that without growth and technological progress under the extreme scenarios of climate models we’re basically doomed, talking about reducing emissions in the western world by any amount under serious consideration isn’t going to matter
Amazed at the number of people attacking Gary here. He is not trying to preserve his gravy train. The fact is, the US and Europe could live like cavepeople, ride bikes, eat raw foods, use no electricity or power and the waste from China and India would still decimate the world.
As for attacking a “child”, her parents thrust her into that role. She attacked and ridiculed government and leaders, on multiple occasions. It’s fair to defend ones self. Also, when using such fake stories to promote their point, the validity is diluted
Everyone can stop worrying about “poor little 16 year old child”. Her and her handlers have chosen this path. SHE makes herself public.
”No one has real plans that are both feasible and ambitious enough to do anything about it. We could adopt all the recommended changes in the West and – taking the threat seriously – that wouldn’t be enough to make up for emissions elsewhere in the world.“
This statement is absurd and dangerous. The solutions are there and have been there. People need to hold their governments and themselves accountable. But hey that’s not as easy as burying one’s head in the sand and hoping the crisis goes away.
Thanks for the article Gary. Not to go all Trump on her, but shame on her, scolding her elders on something that is far more complex than she can imagine. Maybe she can do some activism with Leonardo DiCaprio.
I love making my carbon footprint.
“Air travel, though, remains a small part of global emissions.”
News regularly reports air travel emissions are about 2% of total global impact, yet scientific studies indicate air travel has additional direct impacts on the atmosphere magnifying the total impact.
One of the primary issues is little indication there will be significant technological advancements in aviation to reduce the environmental impact at anywhere near the technological solutions available to reduce emissions from other global warming industrial sectors.
Current forecasts for aviation growth globally over next 30 years means aviation is anticipated to become an increasingly larger share of total global emissions.
“@ABC – point is that without growth and technological progress under the extreme scenarios of climate models we’re basically doomed, talking about reducing emissions in the western world by any amount under serious consideration isn’t going to matter”
I will agree that technological progress necessary, but I think you are way off with the point on “growth.” Growth, and the obsession to constantly grow, is a big part of the problem. We need to reallocate resources towards solutions instead of worrying about multi-billion companies making more each year.
This is someone who said people who disagree with her politically/scientifically should be “put up against a wall.”
As far as I am concerned, she’s descended from people like Mao and Stalin.
She gets no deference or respect from me, the little lunatic.
I agree climate change is a huge issue that needs serious focus. But yea, I don’t think I am going to make a child my savior and I am a hardcore liberal. Sorry I wasn’t born rich to celebrity parents that I can sail around the world whenever I want in my electric yacht. If anything her personality is starting to remind me of Trump. Lie about her seat on the train then after the fact she says she meant something else. Yea, sounds real familiar.
Tee Ayo 110% yes! The young people of Hong Kong have much more to lose than Greta.
Gary is so far off the mark here, I hope he earns frequent flier miles for his long journey to get back on track.
She’s done more than he has to manage climate change (instead of encouraging people to fly more for leisure, as Gary does—the opposite of the economic growth gobbledegook he mentions in his word blizzard—she’s encouraging people to be more responsible).
Climate change is a crisis. I love flying but we should all do it much much less.
As frequent flyers, going cold turkey on flying would be difficult.
However, please consider reducing your own flying where you can through acts such as switching from first/business to economy.
Furthermore, if you’ve ever skipped or downgraded a trip over climate concerns, I think the least you can do is let airlines know about it to create some additional economic pressure for transformative technologies that will help make the coming enormous surge in aviation growth less of a disaster for the environment.
Longer version here:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/carbon-conscious-travel/1999673-let-s-let-airlines-know-climate-concerns-changing-our-flying-habits.html
A grown adult going after a teenager. You’re so brave, Gary.
The good thing about reading someone’s blog is that in the long run you end up having a sense that you may know a little bit of the author’s point of view surrounding some subject.
About climate change: between not liking (and maybe understanding?) to use those wall mounted soap and shampoo dispensers to clearly not giving much thought about Greta..it is obvious where you stand.
But I think I do understand you. You are from an older generation and these changes are a bit uneasy for you. In a way it is the same as if a smoker frequent flyer traveller had a blog in the early 80 to 90’s and he/she had to stop smoking in airplanes because smoking was no longer allowed. He/she would go nuts and be very mad about it.
This is what I can come up with reading you posts with your opinions
If you’ve reduced flying at all due to climate change, you should email airline execs.
It’s the least you can do.
It’s better than whinging about if the FA used your name (Lucky’s current pressing personal drama).
The fact that a 16 year old riding around the oceans on a yacht(That had a diesel engine no less), and yelling about climate change. Is someone we put on a pedestal, and look upon for wisdom and insight – Really say’s it all about todays society.
there was a 29 yr old “old woman” in congress, now there is a 16 yr old “old woman” out in news front. the combined age is l0 yrs less than mine but they look 10 yrs old than me.
One day your child will ask you: “you knew the consequences of your lifestyle choice but yet you did nothing to change. Was feeling special while flying around in really so much more important that the world you have left us?”
Gary, it helps if you actually read articles that you link to.
And I quote, from Berners-Lee:
“If you were to replace all today’s aviation fuel with biofuel, with first-generation biofuel, it would be at the expense of 2,100 calories per person per day for everyone on the planet,” says Prof Berners-Lee. “It would take almost all of humankind’s calorific requirements . . . So that is absolutely not a solution.”
I wouldn’t call that progress at all.
Hitler was a Time “Person of the Year” once and he also rode on German trains in First Class. They both loved photo ops and propaganda as well.
She’s 16. Her brain has not yet fully developed. When she’s older I’m sure she will appreciate the merits of a first-class chair. It just takes more time with some.
You of course make your living by encouraging people to fly more, sometimes mileage runs to nowhere, so that they can acquire unicorn points. Something, something….conflict of interest …….Think twice before ridiculing a child. You and all your blogger buddies should be rightly flight shamed. People encouraging others to fly to nowhere.
White child born into the leisure class and holds luxury beliefs that are supported by a traveling cast of leisurites.
That young girl does not realize that she cannot do nothing against China, Russia, India and US. Because by the end of the day, money and power of the communism(China) talks. They never would give up, even less for a some child. China opens more coal mining’s yearly and harm will be more even if the whole Europe closes theirs. Time to go back to the school. No solution just pollution. Unfortunately.
This seems unfair. We all know she is right on the facts — climate change is happening, climate change is bad, and air travel is an outsized contributor to the problem. So while the flying that we do may be justified, it does have an undeniable impact.
Whether or not one likes the way she delivers her message, she isn’t wrong. And lumping her well-meaning social media posts in with the genuinely self-serving messages of airline CEOs isn’t moving anyone closer to a solution.
She’s a 16-year-old child. Her brain is not yet fully developed. When she’s older I’m sure she will appreciate the merits of a first-class seat.
This ‘no seat on a train’ bit was already done by the British politician Corbyn a year or so ago – and look what happened to him.
Other passengers confirmed she had a seat in the 1.class. Check the screenshots and even parts of the German MSM confirm.
https://postimg.cc/gallery/1qroeffqo/
@Gary Leff,
And then there’s China. Great economic growth and technological advancements. However, 60% of China’s energy comes from coal greatly accelerating global warming. Double edged sword.
“No one has real plans that are both feasible and ambitious enough to do anything about it. We could adopt all the recommended changes in the West and – taking the threat seriously – that wouldn’t be enough to make up for emissions elsewhere in the world.”
There is a small group of people that have solid, credible ideas on what to do. Unfortunately politics really get in the way, both sides of the spectrum.
When pressed humanity seems to find a way, and I believe a solution will eventually get figured out. Mostly from technology. In the mean time the benefits of global travel and the exchanging of ideas will far outweigh the relative financial and environmental costs.
It doesn’t matter that old fogeys don’t like her ( ie, feel threatened by her ..) : her message resonates with young people.
The Madrid fiasco suggests the old guard is determined to cling onto their planet-destroying policies to placate their backers and cronies. Fortunately their days are numbered.
Long term follower here, Gary. I’ve read and re-read the post and don’t get the point of it. I don’t even see her complaining in the tweet just making observations. I don’t agree with Greta’s position on flying (although I do prefer trains when possible) but that’s her choice. There’s a real vain of reverse ageism in criticism of her. Her elders really should listen.
It’s all an act – full of hypocrisy. Some of the crew for her boat trips had to fly in connection with operating the boats – so more people flew in order for her to “not fly” than if she had just traveled by airline to begin with. Her borrowed Tesla was full of single-use plastic waste. She has made no visits to the worst polluting countries such as China. I wonder why?
I feel sorry for her as she has, by her parents’ own statements, autism and a history of mental health issues including an eating disorder. Her parents and enablers have used her as a prop and preyed on her vulnerabilities. And make no mistake, she was chosen in part because she looks much younger than she is – almost 17. This is all an appeal to emotion rather than facts. The climate alarmists are counting on the fact that anyone saying things contrary to Greta can be painted as “big meanies yelling at a poor little girl”.
Enough with the “how dare you pick on a child”! For one thing, she’s nearly 17 not 8. A young adult/teen who in many countries can drive a car and drink beer. A teen who deins to get on the world stage and lecture (screech at) adults on what they should and shouldn’t be doing. So no one should be surprised if the adults have responses back to her. if she’s a helpless little girl, then no one should be giving any weight to what she says; if she’s not a helpless little girl then criticism is quite fair.
We should be good caretakers of the Earth. It’s important to reduce pollution and waste. But climate is extremely complex as is making predictions about it. To claim that anyone has completely accurate data and forecasts is foolish. Thus, we need to be thinking critically about what are the best steps to take to reduce our impact to the Earth while not going to such extremes that we have unintended consequences to humanity.
Some sharp pokes at a kid who’s just trying to make the world a better place.
This summer, I happened to be in Lourdes, France. Lourdes became a major Catholic shrine after Bernadette, a 14-year-old with health issues, said she saw visions of the Virgin Mary in the 19th century. At first people thought she was nuts, but then the leaders of the Catholic Church thought her visions could be useful to them. So they embraced the visionary teenager and Lourdes became a major shrine.
I think you can see where this is going. A group of adults currently find Greta’s unusual visions to be useful to them. Their feelings are essentially religious in nature. It is impossible to argue with someone over their religious beliefs, and it is pointless to try to engage in a rational discussion about them.. Over time, Greta will either become a saint to some form of Gaia worship or she will be forgotten about. Religious fervor is hard to predict. Hopefully it works out better for Greta than it did for Bernadette, who died at a young age from her illnesses. It is certainly hard to be a saint at such a young age when you are already in a fragile emotional state,