> academia itself is not doing enough to change this culture
This is the key point. Individual action is needed to fight climate change, but cooperation between governments and institutions is as or even more important.
> The data indicated climate experts take about five flights per year, while non-climate researchers took four. However, the study found practical factors like family commitments and availability of low-carbon options were more important in predicting scientists’ actual flying behavior.
This is one of the traps that individuals fall in when it comes to climate change and environment concerns in general. "Low-carbon" or "low-ecological-impact" products relieve pressure on reducing consumption. If you spend a little more money on the ecological option, it seems that you are already doing your part. And, that is not bad, but you may end consuming more and thus increasing your environmental impact.
It is similar to how recycling plastic increasing its use. Even when the recycling is not happening in many cases.
To have the knowledge on how to choose the most low-carbon flights, may have a real impact on how people perceives their effect on the environment, a negative one.
Worrying about this is like worrying about a drop of water falling in the ocean. The long term benefits far, far, far outweigh this drop of water. It is just a climate denier's useless criticism or a climate zealot's gone too far dogma.
This is the key point. Individual action is needed to fight climate change, but cooperation between governments and institutions is as or even more important.
> The data indicated climate experts take about five flights per year, while non-climate researchers took four. However, the study found practical factors like family commitments and availability of low-carbon options were more important in predicting scientists’ actual flying behavior.
This is one of the traps that individuals fall in when it comes to climate change and environment concerns in general. "Low-carbon" or "low-ecological-impact" products relieve pressure on reducing consumption. If you spend a little more money on the ecological option, it seems that you are already doing your part. And, that is not bad, but you may end consuming more and thus increasing your environmental impact.
It is similar to how recycling plastic increasing its use. Even when the recycling is not happening in many cases.
To have the knowledge on how to choose the most low-carbon flights, may have a real impact on how people perceives their effect on the environment, a negative one.