Written By: Georgia Carter Exploring the world is a dream many of us hold. We have the whole world practically at our fingertips, and we’re longing to reach the extended hand of adventure and welcome its embrace. But travelling can take a hefty toll on the environment. From plane rides to single-use plastics, tourism can be littered in environmental damage. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. While we will still be taking planes to reach our desired destination, there are various habits and behaviours we can adopt to mitigate the dangerous impact travelling can have. Caption: While travelling is a lifeforce for most of us, the negative effects of certain actions harms the very environment we seek to immerse ourselves in. Credit: Niklas Weiss, Unsplash But first… What is sustainable travel and ecotourism?Sustainable travel can be simply defined as making simple choices to lessen your environmental impact. It's finding ways where travel and tourism can be maintained without harming natural and cultural environments. Ecotourism is the encouragement of environmental preservation, where wanders and travel-related businesses and services aim to minimise the negative impacts of tourism and instead adopt healthier standards of sustainability within the tourism trade. Modes of transport and their carbon emissionsUnfortunately, travelling requires various modes of transport - and transportation contributes to one fifth of the global carbon emission. While the world will continue to rely on transportation, and until we glean significant sustainable evolution in the field, we all need to do our best to travel mindfully. Caption: Planes are among the worst forms of transportation in terms of carbon offset. Credit: Ken Yam, Unsplash Below are the different carbon offsets produced by each mode of transport:
Source: eea.europa.eu How to lessen your carbon emissions when travellingWhen it comes to your personal carbon offset in terms of transportation, there are a few steps you can take to reduce your emissions. Below is a list of 5 actions you can implement when travelling that will help decrease your carbon offset:
Caption: Riding a bike is one of the most eco-friendly modes of transport, and it helps you better witness, immerse, and understand the new destination. Credit: Netbike, Unsplash What is eco-accommodation?24% of all carbon dioxide generated from tourism comes from accommodation. This transpires through the overuse of water, electricity, and plastic. Eco accommodation refers to a place holding a strong commitment to mitigate harmful practices on the environment. It’s an airbnb that runs off solar power, a bed and breakfast that uses homegrown, organic produce, and a hotel that encourages recycling. Caption: Eco accommodation is defined as a space that’s dedicated to maintaining the health of the environment. Credit: Jared Rice, Unsplash Here are a few ways you can check if your chosen accommodation is an eco-friendly option:
An estimated 40% of all carbon emissions by 2050 will be caused by tourism. While travelling is almost essential to many of us, it’s important to remain mindful of your actions and shift your focus on maintaining a sustainable lifestyle even while abroad. 12 tips for environmentally friendly travel
Caption: Camping is by far one of the best and most thrilling ways to experience a new destination. It’s also the most affordable and healthiest form of accommodation for the environment.
Credit: Pars Sahin, Unsplash Reference List: https://ourworldindata.org/travel-carbon-footprint https://www.ontheluce.com/carbon-offsetting-flights/#:~:text=Carbon%20offsetting%20with%20your%20airline,but%20how%20they%20work%20varies. https://charlieontravel.com/what-is-sustainable-travel/#:~:text=Sustainable%20travel%20means%20finding%20a,in%20which%20it%20takes%20place. https://littlelosttravel.com/importance-of-ecotourism/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=1074699506_51232846_452490 https://www.ecotravelist.com/blog/tips/eco-hotel-can-tell-legit https://greenglobaltravel.com/green-travel-tips-ultimate-guide-sustainable-travel/
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AuthorsMatthew Hanly
![]() Georgia Carter
Editor: Emma Hanly
Kelly Steenhuisen
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