3 Ways to Make Flying More Climate-Friendly | Ryah Whalen | TED

Air travel opens our eyes to the world, but it also comes at a high cost to the environment. Piloting us into a future of green aviation, innovator Ryah Whalen shares three ways to lower the industry's carbon footprint through smarter designs, eco-friendly fuel and new technology -- so we can continue to explore the planet without hurting it.

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[joejoey]

For short distances it’s better to invest in high speed rail which can have zero carbon footprint and the trip will take just as long as a flight maybe even faster if you factor in the check in process and security. Airplanes will always be necessary for long haul and the best we can do is minimize the carbon footprint but there will always be a carbon footprint with flying, fuel whether it’s from petroleum or from biofuels will produce CO2 and nothing else we have is as energy dense as these fuels .

[stevecagle]

I've been a pilot most of my life... Please explain how I'm supposed to safely take off without "gunning the engine" to take off power. FYI, those of us who fly airliners follow pretty strict rules from our employers to fly efficiently. For example, we use autopilot and auto throttling to fly more precisely and efficiently than any human. Your other ideas are pretty good especially more efficient use of airspace to lessen holding and indirect routing, but while the technology exists the government funding to implement it is lacking.

[TranNguyen-bgqi]

2:30 INTRO SOLUTION
#1 2:48 - 3:42 DESIGNING AND FLYING PLANES
#2 4:12 - 5:36 BIOFUEL
#3 6:07 - 7:15 BREAKTHROUGH, INNOVATION AND INVENTION
#4 7:40 CONCLUSION + PERSONAL

[DavidSanchez-vxbv]

Every time I watch a video on Climate change and how to reduce emissions I get more convinced that by 2050 almost NONE of those goals will be achieved and that humanity and society will survive, even if the conditions are harsh

[Overminder]

As far as i know the best way to reduce emissions is not only to fly less but also return to now modern propeller engines. Those jet engines only became popular for ever faster and higher travel and with cheap oil prices allowing to burn as much fuel as possible, but planes have become slower and slower over the years to fly more efficient. And now with rising oil prices, slower flight and effiency in the focus modern propellers have the potential to drastically reduce emissions while solving a couple design problems like massive heavy engines.

[shabushaburo]

Why wouldn't we focus on building high speed rail and reducing/eliminating domestic flights, which make up the majority of flights Americans take? Oh yeah, the airline industry would hate that and probably is actively lobbying against it.

[HexerPsy]

I do like her idea of flying only for a good reason.
Like when you have other electrical options - such as electric trains to get you from A to B. Maybe only fly when you cross an ocean and invest into building high speed electrical rail instead?

Who says you should fly for your holiday?
Business meeting? Private jet? Nah - zoom call! THIS WHOLE VIDEO COULD VE BEEN A ZOOM CALL.

[ShaneBro]

The trip you took as a 6 year old has more emissions than the same trip today. What are the differences between then and now?

[DavidS-jiqv]

How about building good high speed rail so there are actual green alternatives to flying in the US, reserving flight for only overseas travel?

[ureviews]

I'm shocked that bio fuels are marketed as reducing carbon emissions.... If you burn bio fuel you still get the same amount of CO2, what the heck?

[meagain]

Okay but there’s nothing average people can do about this once again. Talk to the corporations and private jet celebrities!!!! Geez 🙄

[sabrinalu]

the simplified Chinese translation caption of this speech is humiliating Taiwan
Taiwan is Taiwan, not PROC Taiwan

[traubd]

The numbers are wrong. Air traffic causes the most pollution damage to the air.

[Michael-truq]

These talking heads won't be able to make any significant changes to climate, except adding hot air.

[Celis.C]

What if you used the railgun principle to help airplanes take off? That should save a big chunk of traditional fuel. Make sure the magnets are renewably powered and that's a good start already.

[AndrewGBernhardt]

It a delta wing design is more fuel efficient then why hasn't Boeing and Airbus used it?!

[proletar-ian]

tax airlines for the emissions, use those taxes to fund electric train, bus, and car infrastructure

[pascaldolan]

Have you considered just stopping flying, or limiting flying? This is so much an argument for 'you have your cake and eat it' The changes you are suggesting are wishful thinking at best.

[Oliver-hwit]

Don't spray poisonous chemicals out the back of them.

[slipperyRat-eq]

Your not going to fix this. Air travel is and has been here for a long time. As for the environment. Your better off focusing on coal burning in india and china.