One of the most rewarding things in life is to travel, getting to know new cultures, people and special places. But it produces a large environmental footprint of carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere from human activity. Today a new wave is on the rise which we might call eco-travel, inspired by a growing environmental consciousness of tourists. In response, this ultimate guide offers in-depth advice on how to reduce your carbon footprint when you are traveling: turning those travel plans into as environmentally friendly of an adventure as possible.
Calculating Your Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint is the sum of all greenhouses gases emitted by human activities, stated in equivalent tons of CO2. When it comes to travel, those emissions are our transportation and wherever we stay (plus food consumption along the way).
Main Drivers Of Carbon Emissions From Travel
- Transit: Roughly made up for air travel emissions.
- Lodging: Including energy for heating, cooling and general use of the hotel.
- Food: Greenhouse gases related to food production, transportation and waste.
These activities include emissions from tourist tours and excursions as well as from recreational activities.
Selecting Green Modes of Transportation
The single largest category in travel emissions: Transportation. Following are the ways to reduce your footprints:
Opt for Direct Flights
Whenever air travel is unavoidable, fly direct. Landing and takeoff use the most fuel, so emissions go down by performing less of these operations. Look into that as well, and airlines have begun to use carbon offset: or cleaner airplanes.
Think About Other Modes of Transport
When traveling shorter distances, consider alternative ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
- Trains: Most eco-friendly mode of transportation and can be electric trains run by renewable energy.
- Buses: New buses are more fuel efficient and emit less CO2 per passenger mile than cars.
- Carpooling: Driving with others can get people out of their own vehicles, which would decrease the amount of cars and trucks on streets.
Embrace Slow Travel
Unlike the traditional way, slow travel underscores a relaxed view on times and with that longer durations to stay at one point in time which allows for reduced transportation necessities. This reduces your carbon footprint and gives a more immersive way to experience the destination, leaving you walking away with new experiences.
Eco-Friendly Accommodation Selections
Turns out, where you live can have a huge effect on your carbon footprint. When it comes to accommodation, you should turn these tips into factors.
Stay in Eco-Friendly Hotels
When booking hotels and resorts, find one that has LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), Green Key Global or EarthCheck certifications. Properties that meet the most stringent environmental standards for energy efficiency, water conservation and waste reduction.
Consider Alternative Lodging
- Hostels: Generally more eco-friendly by nature, they offer communal spaces that require less energy to make use of.
- Eco-Friendly Home Rentals: Check out work done by platforms like Airbnb that offer such options, and properties operated on renewable energy.
- Eco-Lodges: Accommodations suited to eco-sensitive travellers that help protect the environment and contribute towards conservation endeavors in the area.
Conserve Energy and Water
Practice energy and water saving techniques while you are out there!
- Unplugging: Unplug electronics when they are not being used, to avoid vampire power drain.
- Reuse Towels and Linens: Participate in the linen & towel re-use programs that hotels offer to decline daily changes, save water & energy.
- Power down the lights, heater and air con: Remember to power off lighting, heating systems, and AC units when you get out from your sleeping quarters.
How To Eat Ethically When Traveling
Both food production and consumption also have important environmental implications. Read on to learn how to eat more sustainably on the go.
Opt For Local and Seasonal Foods
Choose local dishes cooked with food that is in-season. It also helps farmers minimize their carbon footprints by reducing the distance that food needs to travel.
Decrease in Meat and Dairy
Meat and dairy products, besides being resource-demanding to produce, are a major source of greenhouse gases. Include more plant-based dinners when traveling as well.
Avoid Single-Use Plastics
Take with you reusable water bottles, shopping bags, and utensils to help reduce plastic waste. In fact, several destinations are beginning to pass legislation restricting the use of single-use plastics, so staying nimble could be a benefit.
Minimize Food Waste
Only order what you will eat and have a doggie bag. Whenever possible, composting food scraps reduces methane emissions from landfills.
Do Some Good Sustainable Activities
Some activities you opt for also have a carbon footprint. Consider these tips:
Support Eco-Friendly Tours
Pick an ecological-friendly operator who does things like holding the tours to groups of 10 or fewer passengers, use electric vehicles and practice long-term conservation.
Do Low-Impact Activities
Start by engaging in a day of hiking, biking, snorkeling or wildlife watching; anything that has minimal environmental impact. Refrain from forms of animal exploitation and local habitat degradation.
Help With Conservation Wildlife Projects
There are countless destinations with options to volunteer on local conservation projects. This might include things like beach clean-ups, tree planting or wildlife surveys. Not only does volunteering help the environment, but it also enriches your travel experience.
Balancing Your Carbon Footprint
Many of us do our best to limit emissions, but not all can be avoided. Carbon offsetting is a way for you to balance out these emissions by funding projects that either reduce or take away greenhouse gases from the environment.
Understanding Carbon Offsets
What are Carbon Offsets: by the ton, measured in metric tons of CO2e. For transmission and other emissions you cannot reduce, the purchase offsets fund projects ranging from reforestation to renewable energy development or methane capture at landfills. They offset a corresponding volume of CO2e by removing (or sequestering) that much GHG with dedicated reforestation carbon projects.
Reliable Offset Programs Tend to Have:
Choose trusted carbon offset suppliers that clearly communicate their projects and adhere to third-party verification standards (such as the Verified Carbon Standard or Gold Standard).
How to Determine Your Carbon Footprint
Use the online carbon calculator from a reliable carbon offset organization you trust to do an approximate estimate of your travel emissions. These tools typically ask for your flights, hotel stays and other activities to give a more precise estimate.
Best Practices for Planning Sustainable Travel
Proper planning can drastically decrease your carbon footprint. Here are some tips:
Research Destinations
Select destinations where they value sustainable tourism methods and have strong eco-friendly policies in place. Particularly with large public transportation networks and focus on renewable energy, these cities around the world are quite environmentally conscious.
Pack Light
The less you pack, the lighter your luggage and hence fuel consumption, especially in an airplane. Pack lightweight clothes and essentials.
Use Digital Tools
Use digital tools while planning travel to cut down paper waste. Apps for tickets, maps and guides can also help reduce printed materials.
Educate Yourself and Others
Educate yourself, and educate other travelers about sustainable travel practices. More awareness can help to generate a wider impact.
Conclusion
Traveling responsibly and decreasing your carbon footprint entail a great deal of effort, as well as the right decisions in terms of what to do. Through sustainable transportation options, green accommodations, and dining choices to responsible activities – in addition to offsetting unavoidable emissions there are many ways to lower your overall environmental impact. Sustainable travel helps the planet, which in turn allows you to have a better experience of seeing deeper into destinations and communities.
As eco-tourism awareness rises and demand follows suit, it is hopeful that the industry will likewise adapt to simplify making sustainable choices. You have all the power, lead with sustainable travel practices and change our future to save this world of wonders for many generations ahead.