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Holidaymakers missing the link between air travel and the climate emergency

In the absence of any concrete political leadership in this area, what else is left but our own agency?

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott — The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.

Wed Jul 08 2026 - 06:00

Sir, – I refer to the article by Naomi O’Leary regarding the wildfires in southern France (“Irish holidaymakers leave belongings and flee French wildfires”, Europe, July 6th).

Irish visitors described going to the airport: “We could see the fires burning near Perpignan. We could see the smoke. We were wondering if the flight would leave.”

The irony of this statement struck me: do we not get the connection between aviation and the climate emergency?

Of course, I am aware that the effect of personal action and decisions has its limitations, but in the absence of any concrete political leadership in this area, what else is left but our own agency? – Yours, etc,