1. Four modes of sense-making for sustainability development: environmentalists and the dilemma of taking long haul flights
Dr Andrew Reeves,
Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, De Montfort University
BECC, Washington DC
Monday 8th October 2018

2. How did you get here?
How did you get here?

3. Flying long-haul: one of the most substantial individual contributions towards climate change (London to Washington: 1.6tonnes)
No technological solutions for sustainable mass low-carbon flights on the horizon1
So, where feasible we should look to fly less

4. Need for Behaviour Change

5. 1: Personal Identity 2: Collective Identity 4 Modes of sense-making
3: Measurable Impacts
4: Indirect Impacts
4 Modes of sense-making
AUTOMA T I C
I’ve quit flying
I feel a bit guilty, but…
I need to travel as part of my work role
RE F L ECT I VE
I’ll calculate my emissions and pay the offset
I’ll keep flying until the government stops me (which they should)
It’s OK if the overall impact of the trip is positive
What I do will make no difference
BECC, Washington DC, Monday 8th October 2018

6. Personal Identity and Collective Identity
1: Who am I? What do I value?
I live an international life
‘Love miles’
For some, a Personal Norm to not fly
2: Who are my peers? What do they do?
Norms of behaviour
Core business of organisation?
Often habit
Often not considered or articulated
Reflection can enable transformative learning1
1: Mezirow, J., How critical reflection triggers transformative learning. Fostering critical reflection in adulthood, 1, p.20.
BECC, Washington DC, Monday 8th October 2018

7. 3. Focus on Measurable Impacts
Calculate carbon emissions of options
Change mode
Offset
Decision rule: minimise!
Sail-hitching (crew)
Sail passenger1
If flying, minimise distance
But…
1: StarClippers (2018) Star Clippers website.

8. 4. Focus on Indirect Impacts
How does a decision assist desired transition pathway(s)?
Vision(s)?
Backcast to present day
Actions now
Think systemically1
1: Anderson (2015) Slow and Low – the way to go: a systems view of travel emissions. In “Beyond Flying: Rethinking Air Travel in a Global World”.

9. Our Own Decision Logic Personal: + Desire to travel
+ History of avoiding flying
+ Identity as climate change activist – hope!
Collective:
+ Norms of close friends
Norms of colleagues
+ Academics considering alternatives1
Measurable Impact:
- Oil-fuelled ship
+ Genuinely ‘going anyway’
+&- Cost (c. $150/day)
Indirect Impact:
+ Model of Slow Travel (cost, duration, ethos)
+ Engagement opportunity 1:

10. BECC, Washington DC, Monday 8th October 2018
It took a week
BECC, Washington DC, Monday 8th October 2018

11. Summary: Self-awareness and Transition thinking
Evaluate considering vision of sustainable future(s)
(and count what helps)
Make the unconscious conscious
Reflect, invite feedback
Navigate with integrity
1: Personal Identity
2: Collective Identity
3: Measurable Impacts
4: Indirect Impacts
4 Modes of sense-making
Contact: Andrew Reeves:
BECC, Washington DC, Monday 8th October 2018