In 2015, I studied abroad in Copenhagen during my junior year of college. Later that year I calculated my emissions and learned that my flight to Denmark and back had a bigger negative impact than everything else I had done that year combined. I haven’t flown since.
Betsy Thagard, Alabama
While switching from plane to rail meant a longer journey, and more planning, Thagard says she's enjoyed seeing the US by train.
“It makes you start focusing on your local places -- what can we do to keep our local places beautiful -- instead of having to fly somewhere else, to see someone else's beautiful local place.”
"I've been flying back and forth to see [my family] for decades now, and so deciding to go flight free meant a real change of life for me, but I love it."
Gerry Gras, California
Michael Winkler, California
David Matthews, Wisconsin
Rev. Fred Small, Massachusetts
We’ve got to do more. To stop climate change we need national and state policies and international treaties to keep carbon in the ground and transition as rapidly as possible to safe, carbon-free renewable energy. Personal transformation, community transformation, institutional transformation, and political transformation go hand in hand. None can succeed without the rest.
Former State Rep. Curt McCormack, Vermont
Sara, Pennsylvania
Julie Dunlap, Maryland
Melissa Blessing, Montana
I will never fly again, or travel far, both because it is the only sane response to what is happening to our planet, but also because I have daughters, nieces and nephews lives to care for. And I’ll stay Placed, here at home, in the only way that intimate knowledge is available so that I may meet what is happening not as witness, though that too, but as a deeply imbedded participant.
Janie Katz-Christy, Massachusetts
I pledge to be flightfree for as long as the climate needs for all the reasons so many others have said:
It's not fair to fly.
I am able to avoid flying.
I want to feel proud when I talk to my future grandkids (g-d willing!) about what I did and did not do, once *we knew* about climate change and the impact flying has on our shared environment.
Kate Pourshariati, Pennsylvania
Jenny Holmberg, California
The travel norm of a few affects the living conditions for us all. And the individual choice to not fly will spread waves of consciousness and calls to action for politicians and companies alike, if only enough of us join in. That is my belief, and that is why I am part of the Flight Free 2021-campaign.
Twyla, California
Kai, Former Pilot
Garl Boyd Latham, Texas
Spencer R. Scott, California
Melanie Alvarado, California
I have come to realize that due to my family situation I won't be able to avoid ever flying again, but I will continue to be very mindful about the environmental impact. Instead of flying in 2021, I hope to do several hiking trips with my dogs in California that I had to cancel in 2020 as a result of the pandemic.