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CAT Media Department: Press Release
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| Wales to Australia- without leaving the ground |
| CAT staffer on overland adventure to avoid carbon emissions |
| Contact: (Email) |
Date: 21/08/2006 |
 What does a dedicated climate activist do when asked to be a bridesmaid on the other side of the world?
28 year old Barbara Haddrill (Babs), who works as a railway operator and biology expert at the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in mid Wales, said ‘no worries mate’ and set off to find alternative overland transport.
‘The carbon dioxide from air travel is one of the biggest single contributors to climate change,’ said Babs. ‘It’s been a challenging trip to organise, but definitely worth it to know I’m not having a harmful impact on the planet.
‘I can’t wait to be on my way, looking out the window of the Trans Siberian Railway which traverses 3608 miles through remarkably varied landscapes.
‘If I had just jumped on a jumbo at Cardiff International I could be there in 22 hours but imagine the adventure I would be missing out on,’ Babs said.
Trains, boats and buses all have less impact on the environment than planes. One single flight to Australia uses the same amount of energy needed to heat 5 modern houses for an entire year or as much as would be used to produce and transport food for 5 people for a year (3.7 tonnes).
Similarly, one return flight can emit more damaging carbon dioxide (CO2) than a whole year of driving. When this and other greenhouse gases are churned out at high altitudes, it is 2-5 times more damaging than at ground level.
Babs will start her journey on a bus from Wales to Moscow, where she will catch the Trans Siberian Railway. From there she plans to make her way by train to Singapore and find a boat to take her across to the Australian mainland.
If you have travel advice for Barbara or would like to help her on her journey please email media@cat.org.uk.
You can also follow her progress on her blog - babs2brisbane.blogspot.com
Last week, the Commons Environmental Audit Committee called for an increase on air travel tax. The Committee of MPs said that carbon emissions from air traffic have doubled since 1990 and they accused the Department of Transport of having a ‘fatalistic attitude which sees carbon-intensive activities and economic growth as going hand in hand.’
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