Last week, I shared a story about flying with my family after ten years of avoiding flights.
It was a very personal and somewhat fragile story for me to share publicly.
The discussion that followed reveals a deeper question facing the climate movement today: how do we accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels while still allowing people the freedom to travel, connect, and explore the world?
For this trip, we chose a non-fossil alternative by purchasing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) that matched the flight’s full fossil fuel use.
On We Don’t Have Time, the discussion has been constructive, thoughtful, and respectful. Many people have also written very encouraging messages, saying they appreciate that I dare to talk openly about solutions that already exist in aviation, even if they are not yet perfect.
On social media, outside our platform, some reactions have been much harsher. There has been strong criticism, and in some cases, personal attacks directed not only at me, but also at my family. That kind of tone does not move the climate conversation forward.
At We Don’t Have Time we believe in dialogue. Solving the climate crisis will require many perspectives, honest conversations, and the ability to respectfully disagree while still working toward the same goal.
At the same time, the intensity of the reaction tells us something important. When discussions about real solutions create strong emotions, it often means we are touching on one of the defining questions of the transition.
Most people who care about the climate agree on the destination. But we do not always agree on the best path to get there.
Different people who care deeply about the climate often come to different conclusions about the best path forward.
The transition away from fossil fuels is not a simple or black-and-white question. That is exactly why open dialogue matters. So instead of talking past each other, let us ask the question openly.
What do you think is the best way forward?