Why did we want to sail to the COP?

With a diverse group of changemakers we will travel to the UN Climate Conference COP25 this fall. Our main reason for going is that we are very worried about the emissions of aviation - that is why we will not travel by plane but by sailing ship.

At the conference and throughout our trip, we want to raise our concerns about the negative impact of air travel on our planet. The sail trip is part of a year long (media) campaign for policy change at national and international level. The aim is to make the transport playing field more equal. We want to make it easier, more affordable and more attractive to choose sustainable travel options like going by train, bus and bike.

Changing the transport system is a complex transition that involves different stakeholders such as train companies, NGOs, governments and policymakers. This is why we want to use the time on board to do a think tank - read more about the think tank here.

Flying is destroying our planet...

Source: De Correspondent, data: CVO, 2016

One return flight from Amsterdam to Santiago de Chile emits 3.800 kg CO₂ — a similar amount of CO₂ saved by eating vegetarian for more then 8 years.

Source: Milieu Centraal

Source: Peeters, P. (2017)

Air Travel is projected to double in the next 20 years. The emissions of the travel industry alone are expected to exceed the complete global CO₂ budget to limit global warming to 1.5° — around 2050, if the aviation industry continues business as usual.

Source: IATA

Aviation is exempt from many taxes, like VAT and fuel tax. In Europe alone this leads to a shortfall of €49 billion a year.

Source: Transport & Environment

It's estimated that up to now only 18% of the world population has ever set foot on an airplane. While most of these (frequent) flyers have the money and time to adapt to the effects of climate change, many of the 82% of people that have never flown are more likely to have their livelihoods impacted by the effects of climate change.

Source: DW

Global solutions are needed for a future-proof travel industry

International collaboration and agreements can stimulate a shift towards sustainable ways of transport.

We will cooperate with existing initiatives and relevant organizations to strengthen our shared message and bring the issue to the international political agenda at COP25.

The UN climate conference (COP) is the appropriate platform to call for the required policies and showcase promising initiatives.

COP25 will take place in Santiago Chile from 2 - 13 December 2019

We will sail to COP25

To call for

Fair taxation of aviation

In the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the participating countries exempted international air travel from regulation. This exemption was upheld ever since. The only major government to act on air travel emissions since has been the European Union, which tried to institute a carbon tax on intercontinental flights in 2012. Right now there is still no kerosine tax, and the new climate strategy of the aviation industry (CORSIA) makes no significant changes.

Promotion of sustainable ways of traveling

Why fly when you can go by train, boat, bus or bike? While aviation is exempted from taxation, more sustainable modes of transport do pay taxes. This creates an unfair playing field: how can sustainable alternatives ever compete with the heavily subsided flying? That is why we want to create an equal playing field and promote sustainable ways of traveling. Changing the system so that individuals will make a more sustainable choice.

Building an international network

Sail to the COP is the first project in our effort to build an international network that aims at making the travel industry climate positive. Through projects we’re connecting people with different backgrounds to share expertise and to campaign for sustainability in the travel industry. In these efforts we will be working together a growing movement and network of local groups fighting against the construction of new airports and for sustainable alternatives. Read more about this global network at Stay Grounded.