Article One
Section
1
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terms: Air travel and
climate change
Section
2
Title: Tourists’ Perception of
International Air travel’s Impact on the Global Climate and Potential Climate
Change Policies
Abstract
This
article acknowledges that the impact of air travel on climate change is a
social issue that is accepted nowadays. The aim of the study was to assess
knowledge by tourists on impact of aviation on climate, determine their reaction
to particular climate change policies, and their sense of individual
responsibility. The study used focused group discussion to collect information
through interviews from tourists travelling from New Zealand. The focused group
discussions evaluated tourists’ knowledge of three policies namely global air
travel charge, voluntary initiatives, and a per capita carbon budget. The study
established that global air travel policy is effective in both restricting
travel and contributing to reduction in emissions. Many tourists though, argued
that they have the right to travel and as such, attempts to restrict their
travel were regarded as unacceptable. The researcher concluded that the only
way to reduce impact of air travel on climate change is through behavioral
changes at the society level.
Reference
Becken, S. (2007). Tourist’s perception
of International Air Travel’s Impact on the Global Climate and Potential
Climate Change Polices. Journal of
Sustainable Tourism, 15(4),
351-368.
Section
3
Population
The
population in the research was 63 international tourists travelling from New
Zealand at Christchurch International Airport. The questions asked enquired
about the tourists’ awareness of the impact of air travel on climate change.
Research
Approach
The
research design used in this paper was a qualitative approach that used in
depth interviews in a focus group. Focus groups are effective in policy
discussions because they help to bring out issues that otherwise may never be
discovered if data is collected through individual interviews. They are also
good in that they help to educate participants on particular social issues. To
facilitate the focus group discussions, the researcher employed a 20 questions
quiz to stimulate discussions and role-plays.
Population
Selection
The
method of sampling international tourists at the airport was not described. Participants
were selected on the virtue of being international tourist travelling from New
Zealand through the Christchurch International Airport.
Main
Results
The
study found out that international tourists lack knowledge on climate change,
which influences their individual responsibility. Tourists lacked awareness of
the connection between individual action or air travel and climate change. The
study also established that a small number of participants felt that they had
no individual responsibility for the GHG emissions emanating from air travel. They
defended their action by making jokes that instead of air travelling, they
could swim to New Zealand, which was interpreted as defensive mechanism. In the
role-play, it was discovered that environmentalist would oppose polices like
the voluntary initiatives, which tourists and governments supported due to the
low impact on GHG emissions. The government and international organizations
such as the UN were considered by many tourists to have the responsibility of mitigating
climate change.
Section
4
Ranking
Middle
Article Two
Section
1
Source: HCT Libraries page
>Discover>Electronic Resources
Search
terms: Air Travel
Section
2
Title: Climate Change and the Air
Travel Decisions of UK Tourists
Abstract
The
researchers in this article claimed that in spite of the wide actions being
taken to mitigate emissions of carbon in other sectors, little attention has
been paid in the holiday’s sectors especially those using air travels to
mitigate the same. The current study used focus group discussion approach to
assess tourists’ awareness of the impact of their action on climate change and
to determine factors that are impacting on polices targeting to reduce carbon
emissions in tourism activities. The study established that many tourists do
not consider the likely impact on climate change when planning travel
activities. They concluded by saying that failure by tourists to consider the
impact of their holidays and lack of behavioral changes are the major factors
hindering the shift of tourism industry towards sustainable path.
Reference
Hares, A., Dickinson, J., & Wilkes,
k. (2010). Climate Change and the Air Travel Decisions of UK Tourists. Journal of Transport Geography.
Section
3
Population
The
population used for this study was UK tourists with a total of 34 participants
being recruited into four focus groups. The study was conducted in Bournemouth,
UK.
Research
Approach
The
research approach was qualitative involving focus group discussions in the four
groups. A facilitator who initiated discussions on climate change and air
travel using various questions led each group.
Participant
Selection
Each
focus group comprised different types of participant’s categories such as
students, parents with young children, working professionals, and retired
people. We also told that the family participants were less frequent travelers
and that all of them had spent a holiday in the last 2 years. Only one participant
used oversees flight in the given period. This was representative sampling
method and it helped to gather as much information as possible from different stakeholders.
We were also told that participant voluntary agreed to participate in the research.
Main
Results
The
researchers found out that one of the most constituent knowledge of climate
change relates to participants’ understanding of changes in weather patterns,
especially reduced snowfall in the last few years and milder winters. Participants
registered uncertainty on the argument that human beings are responsible for
climate change. The professional group lacked understanding of the impact their
lifestyle, especially travelling is having on climate change. In planning for a
holiday destination, no participants mentioned climate change as one of the
factors that is considered, but cost was the most influential factor. In terms
of behavior, the researcher found out various barriers limiting sustainable
tourism including participants’ strong preferences of air travel as the only
mode of travel during holidays. Participants were also opposed to the idea of
banning or imposing quotas on holiday travels. The other barrier to
sustainability found was the argument that responsibility lies with others. Participants
thought that the role of mitigating climate change belongs to the government
and other states.
Section
4
Ranking
High
Article Review
This
article articulates very well how tourist activities or holiday travel impacts
on climate change. It has documented in a clear and concise manner the
attitudes of different categories of tourists on the impact of their holiday
travels on climate change.
Understanding
the impact of air travel on climate change is important because of the recent
changes in the number of air travel and the volume and considering the
projected growth rate in the future. According to Kroesen (2013), a growth rate
of 6% has been witnessed in air travel in the last 50 years and it is projected
that by 2030 with an annual growth rate of 5%, these travels will be more than
double the current rates. Considering that fuel efficiency may not be
accomplished by this time, it is important that a study be carried out on
effect of air travel on climate change. Besides, emissions from air travel are considered
to be a major environmental challenge (Cohen et al, 2013). Attention is also
growing towards climate change due to air travel (Dickinson et al, 2011).
The
current articles only describe increasing GHG emissions from air travel as a
major environmental issue of concern, but it has not been pointed out the best
way to deal with this challenge. In future, a research can be carried out to
determine the best way to deal with this problem.
References
Becken, S. (2007). Tourists’ Perception
of international Air Travel’s Impact on the Global Climate and Potential
Climate Change Policies. Journal of
Sustainable Tourism, 15(4),
351-368.
Cohen, S. A., Higham, J. E. S., &
Reis, A. C. (2013). Sociological barriers to Developing Sustainable
Discretionary Air Travel Behavior. Journal
of Sustainable tourism, 21(7),
982-998.
Dickson, J. E., Lumsdon, L. M., &
Robbins, D. (2011). Slow Travel: Issues for Tourism and Climate Change. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 19(3), 281-300.
Hares, A., Dickinson, J., & Wilkes,
k. (2010). Climate Change and the Air Travel Decisions of UK Tourists. Journal of Transport Geography.
Kroesen, M. (2013). Exploring People’s
Viewpoint on Air Travel and Climate Change: Understanding Inconsistencies. Journal of Sustainable Tourisms, 21(2), 271-290.
