Quite simply, air travel is one of the most greenhouse-gas rich forms of transport in existence. There's no getting away from it - this is definitely not a greener choice!

Greenhouse gases produced in the upper atmosphere can hang around longer and cause more damage than those released at ground level. Air travel is a significant contributor to emissions of nitrogen oxides, a major source of greenhouse gases.

Are there alternatives?

The Man in Seat Sixty-One provides boat and train information from the UK to Europe and beyond. And journey times aren't always that much longer once you take into account air travel check-in times, getting to and from airports etc.