Today I booked a flight from home in Israel, to visit my family in New York. I’ll probably be one of tens of thousands of Jews flying to and from Israel this summer and holiday season.
As a nation, we really fly a lot. Proportionally, I’d bet there are more Jewish environmental organizations and eco-oriented people than in most ethnic groups. But our constant Israel flights, from family visits, to vacations, to Birthright trips, leave over an astronomically high carbon footprint, and render us at least as much of the problem as the solution to climate change. And that’s a hard thing to recognize, given that so many of us care deeply about and try very hard to be sensitive to our environment.
Enter Solar Impulse. Solar Impulse is a Swiss initiative to fly a solar-powered airplane around the world- with no fuel, no pollution, no contribution to global warming. Solar Impulse’s HB-SIA gathers sunlight by day, and coasts on what’s been stored by night. There have been solar flights before, but Solar Impulse is by far the most efficient and ambitious yet.
Could it be, then, that Solar Impulse promises us a way to sustainably maintain our Diaspora-Israel connections?
Well, not right now, at least. The HB-SIA flies at an average speed of 70 kilometers per hour- It would take 130 hours to get from Israel to New York (My wife and I are flying this year with an infant, for the first time. Twelve hours of conventional flight sound like a nightmare as it is). In addition, the plane can only carry one passenger- the pilot. And it will only be ready to fly the world in 2012.
For now then, we’ll have to suffice with more mediocre solutions: Offsetting is one option- At JCI we’re big fans of the Good Energy Initiative. Cutting down on non-Israel related flights is another. As is slashing everyday carbon emissions, from driving less to conserving more, from making conscientious food choices to reusing and recycling household goodies.
Perhaps the most Jewish approach is to recognize our imperfection, and then supplement what we can do with a prayer. Rav Kook, in his “Vision of Vegetarianism and Peace,” concluded that while eating meat is permitted according to Jewish Law, it is only legitimate if we feel the weight of taking an animal’s life, and pray for the day when we will no longer feel the need to do so. He even says that Smicha, when we place our hands on an animal as we pass it off for slaughter in a temple offering, exists for this very purpose.
So, to the Solar Impulse team in Zurich, my prayers are with you. That you complete your mission of flying around the world safely and smoothly, and that you then go home, visit a bit with family, and get right to work at making a solar plane that fits two people. And then three. And that y’all speed the darned thing up a bit! We’ll be rooting for you from the ground.
Click here to download JCI’s free Guide to Offsetting Carbon Emissions, full of the why’s, how’s and with whom’s of offsetting, as well as a special addition on how you and/or your community can develop your own offsetting project.
For more on Solar Impulse, visit www.solarimpulse.com.
I'm Julian, Co-Founder of 
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yes you’re right Yannai, the world’s airplane designers have got to get on and design greener machines. Reading the British Airways onboard magazine yesterday, they now have a ‘green page’, where the chief exec ‘tries’ to answer passengers questions. In every issue I read (and unfortunately as a frequent flier thats too many) he argues that aviation is only responsible for a small amount of the world’s emmissions, and that BA are leading the way both in reductions (they have a facility on their site which allows passengers to offset, through a UN-recognised offsetter) of emmissions, and in supporting offsetting programmes hemselves, as well as supporting new green technologies in the aeroplane Industry.
Over at Virgin, Richard Branson has financially backed a plane that uses palm oil (the post is over on http://www.greenprophet.com somewhere), but I recall that is only using a quarter of 1 of the 4 engines……..and we all know the arguments against growing palm oil. What about fuel from Algae? Maybe Michael could write about this option….
yes, bring on the solar powered plane, quick. but it won’t be in our lifetime……..
A really important piece! Thank you for reminding me of the effects especially of flying, which has the largest carbon footprint of any single act most of us can accomplish in one day.
Having “two homes” for many Jews is both a blessing and a problem when it comes to carbon-heavy globe trotting. Paying an extra $50 or $100 dollars on an $1000 flight is, in my opinion, a reasonable way to take a bit more responsibility for the flights we know will be taking.
I checked out the guide to offsetting, and we (my husband and I) will hopefully offsest out fall flight to the States, as well. Thank you for giving us the push and reminder to do it!
May we all have safe, enjoyable, concious travels!
Excellent site, useful information thanks
Excellent site,Thanks for this great post – I will be sure to check out your blog more often.Just subscriped to your RSS feed..
Good point! Thanks!