A Quick Guide to the Carbon Cost of Christmas Holidays

The way you travel makes a huge difference to your carbon footprint.

What kind of carbon footprint does taking a family of four on holidays create? Let's assume that all things are going to be equal except the mode of travel. Maybe live in Brisbane and are going to Cairns or down to Melbourne. A round trip of around 2,000 kilometres.

Dependent upon what or how you choose to travel, the carbon emissions from the transport choice for your journey will vary enormously. Here's the low down on each transport mode:

• A large SUV like a Landcruiser, will emit 783 kilograms.
• A typical family car of six cylinders will have CO2 emissions around 613 kilograms.
• A more fuel efficient four cylinder vehicle will emit approximately 443 kilograms of CO2.
• As a passenger in one of the more modern jetliners, your carbon emissions will be around 210 kilograms, so a family of 4 will be 840 kilograms.
• An interstate bus passenger can put themselves down for 98 kilograms - 392 kilograms for the family.
• An electric car - because it charges from the mainstream power grid, are responsible for emissions totaling about  233 kilograms.
• Train travel is by far the most carbon efficient way to travel as one train equates to around 15 buses or 250 cars (with 4 people in each, working on moving 1000 people). Training it would put you down for 120kg for the entire family (at most).
• Just in case you are feeling hairy chested and plan on taking a Humvee out for a spin, it will have a footprint around 1,180 kilograms.

For more information on carbon offsets and how it all works, check out Carbon Reduction Institute.

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