Visiting other parts of the world is an adventure in itself, as it entails socialization, exploration, and joy in travel. However, on account of global concerns about climate day by day, there’s a need to reduce the pollution that travelers cause. Tourism’s role in the climate crisis has been brought into even sharper focus in recent years. Now, as people have come to understand their influence, we have begun to hear such phrases as “flight shaming.” That is undeniable: tourism contributes to the climate catastrophe. A 2020 study showed that tourism accounted for 8% of global carbon emissions.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you should cancel all travel; rather, it’s a reason to think through our habits to find more responsible and sustainable ways to travel. In the following ways, you can cut carbon emissions related to travel and contribute to the industry’s growth toward a more sustainable future.
Reduce the carbon footprint of your next holiday by learning what you can do to minimize your carbon footprint during a vacation with our 15 green travel tips:
1. Avoid flying to nearby destinations
The majority of tourism’s carbon footprint is attributed to air travel and other modes of transportation. Did you know that some people can emit more emissions from a single flight than they do in a year? For example, each passenger on a round-trip aircraft from Chicago to London emits about 2.2 metric tons of CO2. Some people think that the solution is to never fly, yet we know that in many places that are only accessible by air, tourism is a major factor in economic growth. As a result, while we do not recommend completely abandoning flying, it is advisable to limit air travel to farther-flung locations.
2. Book non-stop flights
Scheduling a non-stop flight is one method to lower your emissions if you do travel by air. Non-stops utilize less fuel than multi-leg itineraries since they take the most direct path to their destination. The largest carbon emissions from airplanes occur during takeoff and landing, which is a little-known fact. Booking a single, longer flight is preferable to booking several shorter ones so that you just have to take off and land once.
3. Fly economy
So what benefits are there to the flying economy? Your carbon footprint will be lesser if you do. That’s because an airline passenger’s emissions are proportional to how much space they take up on the aircraft. Business class seats are often twice as wide as economy seats. Accordingly, the carbon footprint of a business class passenger is usually double that of an economy class person. These first-class seats use much more carbon and also look much more cavernous compared to the economy class. If you want to save a small sum of money on a flight while also doing a favor to Mother Nature, use the economy class!
4. Pack light
Fuel consumption increases with the weight of your luggage when traveling by rail, bus, automobile, or airplane. To cut down on fuel consumption and, consequently, carbon emissions, pack your baggage as light as you can.
Pick lightweight luggage first, then think carefully about what you pack in it. Bring clothes that are easy to wash on the fly and that you can wear several times. Larger items, such as camping equipment, should be rented locally and left at home. Items should have any extra wrapping removed, and your toiletries should be placed in tiny, reusable containers.
5. Slow it down
Nowadays, everyone is dashing about, working at a frenetic pace, and forever busy. Travel should allow us to leave the daily grind behind; instead, far too often we plan our travel to be even more frantic than our lives back home.
Instead of trying to cram visits to all the “must-see” destinations, take your time by spending more days in one place. Rather than taking multiple shorter trips a year, why not take one longer holiday? Plus, taking things at a slower pace means there is less commuting between different places and thus fewer emissions from that process. When you arrive back home feeling refreshed rather than needing another holiday, you’ll be thanking yourself, trust us!
6. Choose efficient transportation to explore your destination
Be adventurous and use public transportation instead of a rental car or a hired driver. Take the subway. Take the bus. Ride the streetcar. Please note that the efficiency levels may differ with the various public transportation options. Some cities still maintain their buses and rail systems using natural gas or diesel fuel, but many locations maintain the majority of their buses and rail systems on cleaner fuels or alternative technology. Some areas even offer rides through electric tuk-tuks to avoid traffic.
7. Turn down the AC and heat; switch off the electronics
Many people are motivated to save energy in their houses because of high utility costs. On vacation, however, the hotels bear the expense. People may become less aware of their energy consumption when traveling than when they are at home as a result. But our earth will suffer regardless of who is paying the bill. When not in use, switch off the lights, TV, and any other electronics that aren’t necessary. For the duration of your stay, unplug or switch off the mini fridge in your hotel room if you won’t be using it.
9. Eat the local cuisine
Every location provides different specialties and mouthwatering morsels, including seafood, curries, pasta, and veggies. Discover the regional cuisine, visit food markets, and eat at eateries that purchase their products from nearby fishermen and farmers. Try to steer clear of imported goods, which need to be shipped from a vast distance and need additional packing and refrigeration to keep them fresh during transit.
10. Sustainable engagement with the environment
Every activity you partake in while traveling has environmental consequences, both positive and negative. The majority of well-known tourist destinations, particularly natural areas, frequently suffer from overtourism.
Coral reefs are a particularly potent case. Careless tourism practices have the potential to swiftly ruin these delicate monuments. As a result, all visitors must take part in excursions and activities that support the preservation of the environment and species.
How to Become a Sustainable Traveller?
Here is a list of eco-friendly travel advice to support eco-friendly sustainable travel:
- Pack as little as you can.
- Bring clothing that can be washed by hand and is both reusable and versatile.
- Think about bringing multipurpose toiletries.
- Another usage for hair conditioner is as shaving cream.
- In addition to being a moisturizer for skin and hair, coconut oil may be used for shaving.
- You can use castile soap on your skin, hair, and laundry.
- You can use a solid shampoo bar as both shaving cream and body soap.
- Bring a reusable bottle that is free of BPA and can be filled with water or other liquids.
- Packing a reusable bag to use for shopping or other purposes will help you avoid using single-use plastic bags.
- If at all possible, think about using the train, walking, or bicycling.
- Since you won’t likely need the brochures after you leave, return them to the concierge or another traveler before you leave.
Conclusion
It’s time for eco-friendly travel to play a bigger role in how people view travel. Hotel guests can enjoy their vacations with minimal environmental effects by packing only the necessities and supporting local business owners.
The beauty of this planet and its many civilizations demand equal amounts of respect, admiration, and protection. Engaging in responsible tourism inspires you to do good deeds so that the world’s riches are preserved for future generations.
Check out AAFT’s website for some of the best degrees and diplomas in hospitality and tourism. For those of you who want a quick peek into the field, AAFT offers a bachelor of tourism and travel management. This would teach you all about tourism and the travel industry and help you build a career in this field.
