Cruise Ships Are The Most Carbon-Intensive Travel Method
What We’re Showing?
The carbon footprint of transportation measured in grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents emitted per person to travel one kilometer. This includes both carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Key Takeaway
Transport accounts for nearly one-quarter of global energy-related CO2 emissions.
Going on a cruise ship, flying domestically, and driving alone are the most carbon-intensive travel methods. Taking a train instead of a short flight could reduce your emissions by 86%.
Are EVs Greener?
Many experts agree that EVs create a lower carbon footprint over time than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.
However, the batteries in electric vehicles charge on the power that comes straight off the electric grid—often powered by fossil fuels. Subsequently, EV emissions depend mainly on how the country generates electricity.
There are also questions about how energy-intensive it is to build an EV or an EV battery compared to a comparable traditional vehicle.
Dataset
| Transportation method | CO2 equivalent emissions per passenger km |
|---|---|
| Cruise Ship | 250 |
| Short-haul flight (i.e. within a U.S. state or European country) | 245.87 |
| Diesel car | 170.82 |
| Petrol car | 170.48 |
| Medium-haul flight (i.e. international travel within Europe, or between U.S. states) | 151.02 |
| Long-haul flight (over 3,700 km, about the distance from LA to NY) | 147.87 |
| Motorbike | 113.55 |
| Bus (average) | 96.5 |
| Plug-in hybrid | 68.4 |
| Electric car | 47.09 |
| National rail | 35.49 |
| Tram | 28.61 |
| London Underground | 27.81 |
| Ferry (foot passenger) | 18.74 |
| Eurostar (International rail) | 4.46 |
Data sources
Official conversion factors used in UK reporting. These factors will vary across countries depending on energy mix, transport technologies, and occupancy of public transport. Data for aviation is based on economy class. Flight labels have been adjusted to be more relevant to an international audience, from the original UK-based source.
