Welcome

We are scientists, academics, and members of the public who either don’t fly or who fly less.

We feel that global warming poses a clear, present, and dire danger for humanity. In an era of obvious climate change, we feel a need to ramp down unnecessary fossil fuel use. Actions speak louder than words.

We try to fly as little as possible while pushing for systemic change, especially through our home institutions. These are our stories: why we fly less, and what that means in a society that still, insanely, rewards frequent flying.

Why the focus on flying? Hour for hour, there’s no better way to burn fossil fuel and heat the planet. Flying is also the domain of the globally privileged, and perhaps the most important example of lifestyle change we’ll all need to accept, sooner or later, as we transition away from fossil fuel: there’s no feasible replacement for fossil-fueled long-haul aviation at its current scale.

We especially encourage stories from academics. While COVID has shifted social expectations around academic flying, the pressure to attend conferences, workshops, and meetings in person is once again ramping up. And as institutions, colleges and universities ostensibly exist to make a better future, especially for young people. But every mile flown, and every dollar spent in support of the fossil fuel industry, increases climate breakdown and the risk of locking in a catastrophic collective future.

We hope that our openness about flying less helps to change flying culture, gradually reducing the professional handicap for those of us who choose to align our personal actions with our knowledge of global heating. We urge academic institutions to realize their responsibility to be role models in an age of obvious climate breakdown, and therefore to adopt policies and strategies for flying less.

We also hope to increase awareness of the climate impact of frequent flying outside of the scientific community. Flying currently accounts for less than 5% of global climate impact, but it typically dominates the emission profiles of the globally privileged people who can afford it.

Each member speaks on his or her own behalf. Joining this site does not constitute a pledge not to fly.

The site was started and is maintained by a climate scientist, Peter Kalmus, from a simple desire for a livable planet for all. more about the site, and contact info