Is it Possible to Travel Green?
Climate change is occurring all around us, but travel is your passion. Do you have to choose between the two?
With climate change concerns coming to the forefront of news articles across the globe, avid travelers are left wondering how they can reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining their passion. Airplanes that use renewable energy are not commonplace and many are still in development, so what are the best options at reducing your impact on the planet?
- Evaluate All Forms of Public Transportation
With many other forms of public transportation converting to renewable energy or greener fuels, buses and trains may be a better option for shorter distances than flying. Sailboats and other renewable energy-based boats are on the rise, so this could serve as another option as well. Carpooling may be the last resort for avoiding emissions, but doing so in an electric car is even better. However, sometimes flying is the only option available, so it’s important to fly commercial, choose direct routes, and utilize carbon offsets to help reduce your impact. Some airlines, like United, make carbon offsets available to purchase through partnership programs, but you can also visit sites like Terrapass directly to purchase them as well.
2. Choose a Greener Place to Stay
There are hotels across the globe that have a mission to be “greener” than other chains, so searching for a green hotel like Marriott may help. Most importantly, if you choose to stay in a hotel, be conscious of your energy and water usage just like you would at home. Hostels, micro hotels, or a relative’s/friend’s place can be the best option, especially if a certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) hotel is nowhere to be found. Plus, don’t forget about camping as one of the greenest options available.
3. Enjoy Experiences, Not Things
Focus on activities, not things. Reducing the amount of products you buy has a profound impact on carbon emissions. Instead, try hiking, biking around town, window shopping, exploring botanical gardens, and checking out local markets. Stop buying knick- knacks and souvenirs that just end up sitting in your closet.
4. Try Local Foods
Finding restaurants that source local ingredients reduces the carbon footprint caused by long-distance shipping of food products. An additional method is to eat vegetarian or vegan, but if you’re looking for a meal with meat, avoid beef since it’s one of the largest agricultural sources of carbon emissions.
5. Utilize Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Composting Options
Now that you’ve avoided buying excess things (reduce), it’s important to reuse what you can for future travels — ziploc bags, cotton swab containers, etc. After those considerations have been made, make sure to utilize local recycling and composting receptacles during your travels. The greenest cities, like San Francisco, have started introducing composting collection bins in tourist areas, so take the extra few seconds to sort your waste into the proper bins and avoid sending everything to a landfill.
This is a list of 5 core examples on how to reduce your carbon footprint during your travels. Do you have any other methods? Share your best practices in the comments.
