WASHINGTON POST • November 23, 2023
In the spring of 2020, as the coronavirus swept over the globe, air travel disappeared. But now, 3 1/2 years on, Americans’ love of flying has fully returned. Flying is responsible for approximately 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions but about 3.5% of human-caused warming every year – because of the way planes affect the chemical composition of the sky. That might seem like a small amount, but by 2050, aviation emissions could triple. Some people passionate about climate change and the environment – including some climate scientists – have signed pledges to cut back. But in the United States, there are few easy alternatives. If the country invested in high-speed rail, 54% of domestic flights could be replaced by train travel.