Flight Shame (or Flygskam)

Like Greta Thunberg, flight shame (or flygskam) is an anti-flying social movement that originated in Sweden. The aim of this movement is to reduce the environmental impact of aviation.

Flight shame refers to an individual's uneasiness over engaging in activities that are energy-intense and climatically problematic. The movement started in 2018 in Sweden and gained some traction the following years among climate activists throughout northern Europe. The term is also used to shame air travelers as people involved in socially undesirable activities. This way the movement tries to discourage people from flying to lower carbon emissions in order to thwart climate change.

Staffan Lindberg, a Swedish singer, was reported to have coined the term flygskam in 2017. Malena Ernman, a Swedish opera singer and the mother of climate activist Greta Thunberg, also announced publicly that she would stop flying. She was blackmailed into flygskam by her daughter, because forr about two years, Greta Thunberg challenged her parents to lower the family's carbon footprint and overall impact on the environment by becoming vegan, upcycling, and giving up flying[1].

Tågskryt, a Swedish word that literally means 'train brag', is a term that is also derived from the flygskam movement. It wasn't enough just to shame people, but you also had to brag that you were better than them. Yes, you have to post your journey by train on social media.

But, as we are all humans, some claim to be part of the flygskam movement, but do take the occasional flight. The Swedish call this att smygflyga (to sneakily fly) and no one will ever post this on social media.

While the intentions of the adherents of flygskam are perhaps laudable, their impact is minimal. In fact, shaming people into not using a plane is probably counterproductive. As are Greta Thunberg's actions. Have you ever wondered how Greta Thunberg travels to all those locations to participate in strikes?

[1] Jonathan Watts: Greta Thunberg, schoolgirl climate change warrior: ‘Some people can let things go. I can’t’ in The Guardian - March 11, 2019. See here.