Flying Green: On the Frontiers of New Aviation

by Christopher de Bellaigue

Overview

Can flying be green?

Everyone loves to travel, and the industry’s room for growth seems almost limitless—except that flying will soon be responsible for 19 percent of global emissions. Some people have even decided never to fly. Over the coming decades, aviation will witness more innovation than at any time since the invention of the jet engine in the 1940s, transforming the way planes are powered and the way they look.

In Flying Green, Christopher de Bellaigue meets the inventors, visionaries, and entrepreneurs who are at the frontier of new technologies, from a European startup that makes fuel out of thin air, to a California firm using hydrogen to power flight, and an airship called the Flying Whale. What will it take for a new generation of travelers to fly guilt-free? This is the story of the search for a way to fly green.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781735913780
Publisher:	Columbia Global Reports
Publication date:	04/04/2023
Pages:	111
Sales rank:	673,562
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Christopher de Bellaigue is a historian and journalist known for his reporting and books on the Middle East and environmental and ethical issues. He is the author of many books, including Patriot of Persia, The Islamic Enlightenment, and The Lion House, and a frequent contributor to the Economist, the New York Review of Books, and the Guardian. He is the recipient of a British Foreign Press Award and the Washington Institute Prize. He lives in London.

Editorial Reviews

One of the Financial Times’ books to read in 2023

“[De Bellaigue’s] reporting is far more engaging than conventional accounts of efforts to make flying safer for the planet.” —Financial Times

“De Bellaigue assesses current efforts to decarbonize jet fuel and find alternative fuels for flying in this rigorous account.” —New York Times

“An exciting read that gives climate-minded travelers reason to hope that positive change is in the near future.” —Kirkus Reviews

“An excellent overview of the current state of play and the possibilities for more rapid change.” —Literary Review

“A snappy yet detailed guide to the challenges aviation faces in a world trying to transition away from fossil fuels.” —Geographical

“Planetary mobility has been a remarkable gift in many ways—and at the moment a remarkable curse as well, as it helps overheat the planet. This is a fine catalogue of possible ways out (I favor the blimp) that will make for great reading on your next Amtrak trip.” —Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org

“Everyone who gets on a plane and knows about the catastrophic threat posed by global heating asks themselves if there is a green way to fly. Christopher de Bellaigue sets out the options in this excellent book.” —Tony Juniper, environmentalist

“Flying Green tells an inspiring, deeply researched and dynamic story of the future of aviation. It’s a brilliant exploration of an industry in rapid transition with a dizzying array of new possibilities, providing us all with the hope of guilt-free flying again. Take it on your next flight!” —Jeremy Oppenheim, founder, SYSTEMIQ

“Exceptionally timely, and a remarkable combination of great writing and technical depth.” —Richard Aboulafia, managing director, AeroDynamic

From the Publisher

2023-01-12
An award-winning journalist surveys emerging technologies for environmentally friendly air travel.

It’s no secret that airplanes are among the worst climate offenders; at minimum, one international flight burns 300 kilograms of jet fuel per person. Yet, flying is “a silver bullet that slays the demon of distance,” writes de Bellaigue. “It’s the closest thing we have to supernatural powers.” In 2019, “a total of 4.5 billion passengers were flown…and 82 percent of seats were full.” However, that number disproportionally represents an elite group of frequent fliers, most of whom don’t live in areas most affected by climate change. Researchers have confirmed that reducing air travel by one flight per year per person can have a major positive impact on the environment, but people are reluctant to change their behavior. The author also points out the fact that less than 20% of the world’s population has ever taken a flight, and the number of active flyers is expected to increase. As intractable as this problem seems, de Bellaigue has good news: Startups and entrepreneurs around the world have identified new ways to “fly green,” giving environmentalists cause for optimism. From California to Switzerland, the author explores the most promising technologies to make flying cleaner, from innovative jet fuels to helium-powered airships to electric planes. Blending in-person interviews with rigorous research, the author brings these pioneering scientists and ideas to life, and he makes a convincing argument that there is good reason to be hopeful that these ambitious leaders can transform the industry and help save the planet. However, he’s careful to point out that progress is likely to be fitful, as with any groundbreaking technology that threatens a powerful status quo. “It’s not technology that’s holding up the decarbonization of aviation,” he writes. “It’s money.”

An exciting read that gives climate-minded travelers reason to hope that positive change is in the near future.

Kirkus Reviews