I never cease to be amazed at how small air travel has made the world. I woke up yesterday morning in Punta Arenas Chile and fell asleep (for a few minutes at least) somewhere over the Gulf of Mexico. Now I am in Miami waiting for the next leg in my trip home (the temporary one in Boulder). To Dallas, then finally Denver. One of the reasons I like expeditions so much is that I get to catch up on my sleep.

I shouldn't complain really, because I also have a little bit more R & R coming my way. Yes, while I may love snow, ice and cold I'm pretty sure I won't melt on a warm beach. Besides after being covered from head to toe for 2 months straight, a little (or in this case a lot) of vitamin D will do me good. Look out Mexican beach, this polar man is heading south. In a couple days I'll be drinking out of coconuts while planning my daily caloric needs for the north pole. I'm am really looking forward to this trip.

One of the things that people always ask me is about the impact of air travel on the environment. I for one, travel a lot by air for sponsorship meetings and presentations. It is important to point out the paradoxes in one's own behavior (and then changing them).

The David Suzuki Foundations web site describes the problem as such, 'Although aviation is a relatively small industry, it has a disproportionately large impact on the climate system. It presently accounts for 4-9% of the total climate change impact of human activity.'

But at a time when we urgently need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, emissions from aviation continue to grow. For example, since 1990, CO2 emissions from international aviation have increased 83%. The aviation industry is expanding rapidly in part due to regulatory and taxing policies that do not reflect the true environmental costs of flying. "Cheap" fares may turn out to be costly in terms of climate change.

Compared to other modes of transport, such as driving or taking the train, traveling by air has a greater climate impact per passenger kilometer, even over longer distances (see graph below). It's also the mode of freight transport that produces the most emissions.'

The web site also goes on to describe several solutions to the problem.

Because the climate impacts of air transportation are at present not adequately regulated under national or international laws, the onus is on individuals and businesses to limit their flying unless absolutely necessary. This needn't be as drastic as it sounds:

1. Consider taking a vacation closer to home. You'll save money and avoid the stress of airport security, traveling to and from the airport, and sitting in those tiny seats. Most of us live in places that tourists from elsewhere visit, so take a holiday in your hometown or region and find out what it has to offer.

2. Use other modes of transport where possible. Trains and buses, for example, are much more energy efficient than airplanes, and for regional trips can even be faster when airports are factored in. Even cars can be more efficient than planes --especially with more than one passenger.

3. Use video-conferences for meetings. Companies like Swiss Re and IKEA are using video-conferencing to reduce business air travel. Companies benefit from reduced costs, and more efficient decision-making about travel. Employees avoid the stress of traveling and time away from home and family.

4. Use webcams (skype anyone?) to keep in touch with family and friends who live far away.

5. Contact your political representatives, tell them you're concerned about the contribution of aviation to global climate change, and ask them to take action to regulate and limit greenhouse gas emissions from this sector. If you do have to fly:

- Try to minimize the number of flights you take by combining trips. For example, book more than one meeting in your destination city, so you don't need to fly there several times.

- Fly during the daytime, because studies have shown that flights taken at night have a greater impact on the climate.

- Fly economy, because more people per plane means fewer emissions per person.

- Pack light, because lighter planes mean less fuel is burned.                      

- Purchase carbon offsets to account for the emissions from your flight. 

See the David Suzuki carbon neutral web page for more information.

There is no question that my expeditions (vacations and every day actions) have an effect on the amount of carbon that enters the atmosphere. However, I like everyone else, can do my part to reduce travel, save energy, buy carbon offsets and all the other little steps that can add up to make big change.

Image: A warm (looking) Antarctic Day.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com

For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com

For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net