Frequent Flyers’ Levy by Jessey Jansen

Jessey Jansen

Frequent Flyers’ Levy, c. 2021

Digital Collage

August 2021 as the earth disappears into jet engine exhaust containing carbon dioxide, oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, unburned fuel, soot and metal particles, and water vapor, how about we consider taxing frequent flyers and put that money towards new aviation tech. Taking a long-haul flight generates more carbon emissions than the average person in dozens of countries around the world produces in a whole year, a new Guardian analysis has found. The figures highlight the disproportionate carbon footprint of those who can afford to fly, with even a short-haul return flight from London to Edinburgh contributing more CO2 than the mean annual emissions of a person in Uganda or Somalia.

“We don’t want to penalize hardworking families that perhaps travel abroad once a year for a holiday,” says Mike Childs, head of science, policy and research at Friends of the Earth UK. "We need to recognize that aviation is a luxury and we need to share that luxury fairly.”