Traveling With Sustainability In Mind
The ecotourism movement focuses on reducing one's environmental impact while traveling.
Over the course of human history, it’s arguable that the greatest inventions are, first and foremost, the internet. But second? Airplanes. Having easy access to virtually all parts of the world is a gift that the first travelers would be in awe over. This would most likely be because of the speed at which we can travel in the modern age, and though this certainly has its benefits, another factor to be considered is the environmental impacts of those airborne adventures.
Did you know that traveling reportedly accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions? Mass transit accounts for 75% of that number—specifically 40% due to aviation, 32% because of cars and 3% for other modes of transportation.
Flying is a huge part of travel and, especially while electric-powered airplanes are still being developed, it’s important to know these numbers so that you can work to lower your carbon footprint during your time visiting foreign lands. This is part of a movement called ecotourism (or, as I like to call it, ecotravel). When it comes to this type of travel, conservation of the environment, support of local peoples and an educational lens all play an important role.
In no particular order, here are some ways for you to reduce your impact:
Bundle your trips to avoid flying multiple times a year.
When possible, opt for ground transportation instead of flying.
Book flights, accommodations, tours and other experiences with companies that take responsibility for their impact on the environment.
Pack reusable items like a water bottle, shopping bags, food containers and utensils.
Support small businesses: buy local, eat local.
Never litter and always discard of your waste properly—even better, pick up some extra trash along the way and leave the places you visit cleaner than you found them.
Stay on designated trails to avoid disturbing local wildlife and ecosystems.
Help spread environmental awareness about the indigenous areas you visit.
Sign up for a verified carbon offset program (though there is some debate over the efficacy of such programs). Better yet, donate to a trusted local charity that helms projects like planting trees or installing renewable energy sources.
With about 1.4 billion people traversing the globe every year, and with that number rising exponentially, it’s pretty clear that we need to do something, like, yesterday. Thankfully, ecotravel is one of the fastest growing subcategories of the tourism industry, reportedly increasing by 10-15% across the world annually. That being said, check out these numbers:
If every traveler followed our suggested steps alone, the amount of carbon emissions could be cut drastically. Even the smallest amount of effort can make a difference.
