Suitcases zipping, families packing, and planes jetting across America as families all over the nation prepare to travel for the holiday season.

  Overall carbon emissions have been increasing over the years, and according to Kendra Pierre-Louis, a New York Times columnist, they “are expected to increase by 2.7 percent in 2018.”

  More Americans than ever before are traveling this holiday season. According to an article by Jarrett Renshaw, a Reuters reporter, “Roughly 107.3 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during Dec. 23 through Jan. 1.”

  Over the years, more and more Americans have packed their bags during the holiday season. With the decrease in ticket prices for flights, the number of trips this holiday season, “is expected to grow to 6.4 million trips” during winter.

  Of 35 SVHS students surveyed on whether or not they are traveling during Christmas break: 32% percent are not traveling, 30% percent are flying, and 38% percent are driving.

  Tourism is one of the greatest threats to the environment. According to Green Choices, “Aviation accounts for 75% of the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions.”

 When traveling this holiday season, be aware of the impact travel has on the environment.