The Swedes are ready to change their destination for the climate

The climate debate and the concept of flying comb has, to all intents and purposes, left traces in Swedes' consciousness. Last year, air travel declined. And there is a desire to reduce climate emissions from Swedes' air travel even more, according to a study done at the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology.

There is a "realistic potential" to reduce air emissions by a quarter, by shorter flights or the choice of other means of transport, according to the study.

In a survey, more than 80 percent of those who traveled to other continents for sun and heat during the summer answered that they might consider going to Europe instead. Many are also ready to change flights by train or car for short trips.

"It is good to fly shorter and it is good to limit its flying," says Erik Lundberg, a researcher at the Center for Tourism at the University of Gothenburg.

He notes that it is not realistic to expect us to stop flying.

- Particularly certain types of travel are almost inevitable, such as visiting relatives and friends. The world we live in would not work if we stopped flying. But it is good to think about whether you have to make a specific flight or not.

The great potential for reduced flying is found in tourism, according to the researchers. Holiday travel accounts for 80 percent of the air's climate emissions, compared with 20 percent for business travel. And the willingness to cut down on business trips is not as great as in holiday travel, according to the study.

- There is great theoretical potential, but not so much acceptance to replace travel meetings with travel-free meetings. There is a big job for companies and authorities to do. There are certainly trips that can be replaced with travel-free meetings, ”says Erik Lundberg.

The next step for researchers is to see what methods can be used to reduce climate emissions from travel. Flight taxes, mandatory climate declarations and simplified train bookings are examples.

- Now we see how big the realistic potential is. The next step is to see how we can make people change their travel habits. Which instruments are possible and which are effective, says Erik Lundberg.