When asked about ways to increase sustainability practices and reduce individual and household carbon footprints, one of the simplest ways is to fly less. The greenhouse gas emissions that come from jetting across the country are supersized compared to those that come from other forms of transportation.
For those who want to be more SUSTAINABLE travellers there are ways, including: where you choose to go and how you choose to get there. Not to mention, the numerous ways that we can tread lightly by offsetting our journey and making sure our behaviours while away are as sustainable as they are at home.
Let’s explore four tips for more sustainable travel –
Fly Less
Globally, we have increased our air travel by 300 percent since 1990, and taking just one round-trip flight per year could amount to the same carbon footprint of a person who lives in a developing country for a whole year – Every Day is Earth Day.
Individuals and families can consider reducing the number of air travel required trips per year by aiming to only take one longer trip by plane and simply opting for ground travel when destinations are within a 5 hour drive.
If you are planning to travel across Europe, check out your train travel options as a greener way to travel than by plane – it can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 80% – Every Day is Earth Day. Trains as a form of travel emit the lowest level of greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants, whether they are electric or diesel-powered.
Where to Go?
The shorter the distance from home that you travel, the smaller your carbon footprint. Most of us, despite having grown up in Canada, have hardly scratched the surface of the beautiful places there are to visit in our own backyard. Consider making a Canadian city your next destination.
If you are flying abroad, consider destinations that ask visitors to sign and adhere to a visitor pledge that asks visitors to tread lightly, protect nature and respect culture like Iceland, New Zealand, Haida Gwaii and Hawaii.
When out and about, make a positive impact by choosing locally-owned accommodations, eat in local and independently owned restaurants, buy locally made products and choose local experiences.
Offset your Journey
However you choose to travel, you can choose to offset your journey by buying credits that go toward a project that either avoids the emissions of greenhouse gases, or helps sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – The New York Times, How to Buy Carbon Offsets.
Not all offsets are created equal so be sure to purchase your high-quality travel offsets from a reputable company. Checkout Regeneration for more info on offsets.
Reduce your Plastic while Traveling
Reducing single-use plastics is hard enough in our everyday life and even harder to pull off while you are travelling abroad. Think reusable! In order to avoid some of the single-use plastics while travelling, pack the basics like a reusable water bottle, coffee cup, reusable straw and cutlery. You may also want to toss a reusable shopping bag in your luggage so you can shop plastic free. If you want to take your waste-free travel a step further, you can take zero waste toiletries along such as: shampoo bars, deodorant paste and toothpaste tablets.
Don’t forget about the sunscreen. Many contain oxybenozone which is toxic to the symbiotic algae that live within corals. Bring along reef-safe options instead – Sasha Brady, Lonely Planet, Sustainable Travel.
Buying from and supporting local businesses empowers the local economy. But this is not all. Local products do not involve transportation, require less packaging, and create more jobs – Stefania Angeli, What is Sustainable Travel?
“There is just one key point to keep in mind: respect the fact that you’re holidaying in someone else’s home, and think about how you can make a positive impact while you’re there” – Justin Francis, Responsible Travel
Happy travels!
Sustainable tourism—a framework for engaging travelers and the travel industry at large in supporting goals that include protecting the environment, addressing climate change, minimizing plastic consumption, and expanding economic development in communities affected by tourism.
