The Way: Emerson Levy on Ukraine and Unity, Gudman on the Next Governor, Frazier on Read/Kotek

PLUS: a new cartoon from Jennifer Schuberth and John Urang

"Alaska Airlines" by InSapphoWeTrust is licensed under

Alaska Airlines is apparently a part of the “Care Coalition.” If they really care about the future of the Pacific Northwest, then they’ll help upend the status quo in an industry that contributes 3 to 4 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

If you watched the Super Bowl, then you likely saw the ad — Mother Nature, a Care Bear, and other random folks make up a “Care Coalition.” This fictional group sits around a table and decides to welcome Alaska Airlines to their ranks.

Mother Nature, for instance, cites Alaska changing from bottled water to boxed water as evidence of the airline caring about the planet.

A member of the Care Coalition, according to Alaska, the self-named #CareLines.

That’s a bunch of hot air.

The planet certainly doesn’t care if a Hummer driver uses a metal straw. And, the planet doesn’t give a shit if an airline that flies from Portland to Seattle sixteen times a day (often with relatively few passengers) uses boxed water.¹

Each flight from the Rose to Emerald City burns nearly 3,000 pounds of jet fuel. The same trip on the train may result in 73% fewer emissions.

It’s true that airlines, including Alaska, are taking steps to mitigate their carbon footprints. But, those efforts are insufficient. Even as airlines adopt more sustainable forms of fuel, the increase in demand for airline travel is outpacing those “green” efforts. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the total miles flown by Americans per year will increase by 50% before 2040. The upshot is that by 2050 the UN expects total emissions from the commercial airline industry to triple.

Other countries have taken the lead in reducing emissions produced by air travel. France, for example, banned short-haul domestic flights when train lines provide an alternative route. That’s 12% of France’s domestic flights…Austria has taken similar action. Spain, Germany, and others are considering doing the same.

The odds are low of state or federal officials in the US having the guts to take such a major step. Mother Earth, however, is demanding action. Alaska is in a great place to nudge travelers to use trains instead of flights, where Amtrak provides such an alternative. This nudge could push Amtrak to make long overdue improvements. As someone who has been stuck on an Amtrak train for five hours in the middle of nowhere, I know that travel by train isn’t ideal right now. Surely we’re capable of changing that.

You may think that Alaska, a private entity, will take this action only when pigs fly. That day may come. Who knows what pigs will do to adapt to a scorched Earth. Airlines have had no issues accomodating increases in demand, Mother Nature be damned. Let’s hope the #CareLines will buck that trend.

This piece, of course, could have called out a bunch of other airlines. But Alaska’s desire to stake out territory as a “green” airline caught my attention. I know a lot of consumers, especially among my millennial and Gen Z friends, who base their purchases on factors such as sustainability. I’m not a fan of Alaska trying to tap into that market by doing the easiest possible thing to appear climate-friendly.

Here’s to a better Oregon,

Kevin

---

To look forward to:

• Our #GovernorGoals series. Learn more about how you can help shape the future of our state here.

• Isaiah Boyd, ASUO president, joins the contributor community.

• Rep. Wilde discusses the recent use of the National Guard.

---

To interpret:

From Jennifer Schuberth and John Urang

---

To read:

• Jeff Gudman shares his thoughts on what qualities the next governor should have to guide Oregon through an important time.

  • Read more here.

• Emerson Levy finds inspiration for us all from Ukrainians willing to sacrifice so much for their home and way of life.

  • Read more here.

• Kevin Frazier calls on Tobias Read and Tina Kotek to do more than agree to the debates proposed by the Read team, but to also make those debates meaningful to voters.

  • Read more here.

---

To do:

• Read the latest version of the Liftoff

• Share The Oregon Way with three friends

• Join our editorial team or nominate someone to join

• Tell us how we can improve!

Photo credit:

1. Based on a count of available one-way flights from Portland to Seattle on March 15th (inventory of these flights taken on February 22, 2022).