With much of the world soon about to start emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic – and tourism numbers set to rise again – how do we ensure that our travels are as climate friendly as possible?
According to a 2019 report by the UN’s World Tourism Organization, tourism-related CO2 emissions are set to grow 25 per cent by 2030 from 2016 levels. Therefore, it is important we try to reduce our emissions even when we travel. Here then are seven ways we can travel in a more climate-friendly way.
Stay at Home
While ‘staycation’ may have been the unwanted buzzword of the past year, taking a holiday in your own country does make a difference to the environment. As well as cutting down on your emissions, you will be helping local hotels, restaurants and shops at a time when they can use all the help they can get.
Go Overland
If you do want to experience another country, then why not take the train? There is a romanticism about train travel that’s hard to replicate in any other form of transport.
And, according to EcoPassenger, a train journey from London to Madrid emits 43kg of C02 per passenger, compared to 118kg for the equivalent plane journey. Of course, train emissions depend on the type of train, with diesel trains emitting roughly twice the amount electric trains, although of course this depends on the grid the electric train is connected to, and whether that grid is running on renewables or not. And, if you are really adventurous, you can always cycle to your destination – attach a trailer to your bike, and you can bring up to 70 pounds of luggage with you as well – good for both the environment and your waistline.
Fly Smart
Not all aircraft are the same; some are more efficient than others, with the good news that newer aircraft are generally far more efficient than older planes and get far more fuel efficiency. The bad news is that while emissions per plane are gradually reducing, air travel emissions in total – due to increased passenger numbers – are increasing (for example rising 32 per cent between 2013 and 2018). You can help by always flying economy – business class and first class seats take up more room and are responsible for three to nine times more emissions. You can also compensate your emissions; work out your flight emissions here, and then compensate those emissions on the UN carbon offset platform.
Avoid Plastic
Our plastic use has risen dramatically in recent decades, with UN Environment estimating we produce 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population! Plastic not only causes huge problems for marine habitats, it contributes to global carbon emissions too through extraction, manufacturing and incineration. And travel contributes to those emissions with the IATA estimating that airlines generate about 6.7 million tons of cabin waste each year, with a large percentage of that being plastic waste. The good news is that more and more airlines are taking steps to reduce their single use plastic consumption, with some airlines aiming to ban single use plastic altogether. Check before you book if your airline is making steps to reduce waste or not. And, when you get to your destination, avoid buying bottled water (which contributes to plastic pollution), instead bring your own water bottle with a built-in water purifier, and avoid the hotel’s single-use toothbrushes.
Stay Eco-Friendly
If you do travel away from home, try to stay in locally-run guesthouses rather than big chain hotels. A small guesthouse is more likely to source its produce and suppliers locally, which cuts down on supply-chain emissions (and helps the local economy). There are a variety of online calculators where you can calculate your hotel stay’s carbon footprint, such as this tool. Look for places that are as climate friendly as possible. For example, check out this former Global Climate Action winner, the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort in Aruba, which became the first hotel in the Caribbean to achieve a carbon neutral certification. You can also check out hotel booking sites that specialize in ‘green’ hotels such as here and here.
Volunteer
Why not combine your trip with some volunteering? There are thousands of options available around the world, with everything from beach cleaning and reforestation projects to turtle conservation reserves and orphanages looking for volunteers. However, it is important to make sure the projects you volunteer with are not taking jobs from local people, and have long-term sustainable benefits for the local community in addition to the climate. Some of the things you should consider before traveling are listed here.
Conserve
It’s just as important to conserve energy and water when on holidays as it is at home. Make sure to turn off the TV and lights when you leave your hotel room; Keep your showers short, and let housekeeping know you don’t want your sheets and towels cleaned every day. And don’t use the air conditioning (which releases harmful HFCs) unless absolutely necessary; far better to keep a window open for a refreshing, natural breeze.