COLUMN: In recent years, flying has increasingly become the focus of criticism in the Netherlands. Online and in the media, it seems as if flying is the big problem when it comes to climate change. But what if we are doing it wrong? What if we are focusing on the wrong discussion?
The Impact of Children vs. Flying
Research shows that having children has a much bigger impact on the environment than most people realize. The NPO documentary “About Population” and a large-scale article by The Guardian show how big this difference really is. According to these sources, having one child per year is more than 36 times worse for the environment than a return flight from Amsterdam to New York.
Let's make this concrete:
If you don't have children, you could theoretically take a transatlantic flight every week and emit even less CO₂ than if you had one child.
The taboo surrounding fewer children
Yet you hardly hear anyone talking about this. Why not? Because the conversation about children and overpopulation is seen as too sensitive. People feel attacked, and politicians avoid this topic because of the possible loss of voters. At the same time, airplanes – and therefore the travel industry – continue to get the full brunt.
But is that fair? Absolutely not. It is a simple truth that we need to reexamine not just aviation, but our consumption behavior, our population growth, and our priorities as a society.
What does this mean for the travel industry and the environment?
Travel professionals know how important travel can be: for economic development, international cooperation and personal enrichment. Limiting air travel will not solve the climate crisis. Of course, we must continue to innovate and become more sustainable, but it is time to look at the facts honestly.
Let's broaden the debate and also tackle the bigger issues:
- How can we better regulate population growth?
- How can we make consumption patterns more sustainable worldwide?
- And how can we ensure that travel has a positive net effect on people and the environment?
- Do we dare to engage in a real debate?
The discussion about fewer children may be taboo, but it is a necessary step if we really want to do something about climate change. Until then, it remains unfair to blame one sector – aviation – for everything.
Let us, together, as travel professionals and environmentalists, engage in a nuanced dialogue. The planet deserves it.
Sources:
- "About Population” – NPO
- The Guardian: “Want to fight climate change? Have fewer children"
What do you think? How can we make the climate debate fairer and more effective?
