The truth about flying and its impact on the environment (Plus, upcoming events!)

Dear {NAME}, Greetings from NYC! I'm here for the next week for a number of travel events (see below). It's great being back in my second home (though the cold is less great. I think Austin has made me soft). Today, I want to talk about “flight shaming”. The term is coined from the Swedish flygskam, which means “flight shame” i.e. you personally feel shame about flying but, unsurprisingly, it has devolved into shaming others for flying due to its carbon footprint. (The Internet loves to guilt and shame you. It’s like my Jewish mother but times 10,000. Shout out to my Jewish mother who is reading this email! Love you!) Often when I post on social media about my flights I get a number of comments asking me about my carbon footprint. But, given the propensity for outrage and exaggeration, I wanted to know the science behind flying. Just how bad is flying? I’m not a scientist so I called one up and did a lot of research on this subject over the past few months. I wanted to know: is flying really bad for the environment? Is it all hype? And what can we really do to mitigate our carbon footprint? That’s the subject of this week’s blog post. [Click here to read more about the truth behind flying, carbon emissions, and what you can do](. P.S. - You’re going to see a lot of articles this year on sustainable tourism as I’ve personally become more conscious of the impact travel has on destinations and the planet. I mean plastic sucks. I hate waste. Let's Marie Kondo waste from our travels! After all, what fun is it to harm the very destinations we seek to enjoy? Community Reminders 1. If you're in NYC this Saturday, I'm giving a talk at the NYT Travel Show about saving money on travel. The show is one of my favorites of the year. [Click here to grab your ticket!]() Use the code SPEAK004 to save $3! 2. If you want to learn how to get free flights and accommodation this year, [check out my free primer on travel hacking]()! It will show you how to collect points and miles and help you save thousands per year. 3. If you've been thinking about starting a career in the travel industry, [we have big news about our media courses.](=) They are going through a big change next week and this is going to be your last chance EVER to get one of them. You can read the post for more details! Use the code 50OFF and save 50% off the price of any course! 4. As part of our new community initiative, The Nomadic Network, we're hosting meet-ups in the coming weeks in cities across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Next week, we have events in [Detroit]( (1/27), [NYC]( (1/27), [Chicago]( (1/28), [Toronto]( (1/29), and [New Orleans]() (1/31). For events happening in Feb, [check out this page for a full list!]( 5. A few months ago, we did a reader survey and I was wondering if you could answer a couple of follow-up questions. We're going to be implementing your suggestions and answering these follow-ups will ensure we do it correctly! [Just click here to take the survey](=) Latest from the Blog [Flight Shaming: Is Flying Bad for the Environment?]( Is flying as bad for the environment as people say? In my latest post, I examine in-depth the facts about flying, flight shaming, and lowering your carbon footprint. [Life at Home: New Year, New You]( It's the start of a new year and with it come promises of a better self. Here are my resolutions for 2020, my thoughts on how I'll keep them, and some general updates for you! **** As always, if you have any questions or need advice, tips, or guidance, send me an e-mail! I'm happy to help. Sincerely, Nomadic Matt P.S. - Leaving soon? Use these helpful links to book your trip: - If you're traveling soon, be sure to [check out our destination guides and get your copy today!](=) - Book your travel insurance with [World Nomads]( (Under 70) or [Insure My Trip](=) (Over 70) - Book your flight with [Momondo]() or [Skyscanner]() - Book your accommodation with [Booking.com]() or [Hostelworld]( - Book a tour with [Intrepid Travel]() (Nomadic Matt readers get special discounts!) - Looking for a new rewards card? [Here's a list of my current favs!]() (U.S. only) - Need something else? Check out my list of favorite companies on [my resources page]( and book with confidence. I personally use all these companies listed (here or on the resource page) and, by booking through these links, the small commission we earn helps us keep the content up to date, run events, create new guides, and keep the website going! [Unsubscribe]( | [Update your profile]( | 407 W University Ave, Georgetown, Texas 78626