The Earth is literally on fire and underwater at the same time. Not great.
There has been a lot of chatter lately about climate change and carbon footprints in the wake of back-to-back (to back-to-back-to-back?) deadly and costly natural disasters with clear ties to a warming climate.
In my circles, that chatter often leads back to the travel industry’s impact on global warming, especially from the incredible number of flights that circle the globe every day. Tourism is responsible for roughly 8% of the world’s overall carbon emissions, making it a significant contributor to climate change.
Anyone who’s been anywhere knows that travel broadens the human mind, increases our capacity for empathy, and fosters a deeper appreciation for our big wide world.
For these reasons, I’m all for it.
We also know that it’s often a significant source of damage to our delicate Earth through carbon emissions, waste production, and the extra use of resources such as water, fuel, and electricity.
The big question is: HOW can I minimize my impact on the planet without giving up travel altogether?
I’m definitely not going to go all Greta Thunberg and give up flying or indulging in modern comforts, but there are a lot of ways that I (and you!) can lessen the negative impact we have on our precious planet that comes simply from exploring it.
Some points are big moves that cost money and comfort. Others are simple, free, and require little to no sacrifice.
I’m definitely not saying that my advice will solve all of our eco problems, but every little bit every person can do will add up to make an impact. Choose what feels right for you. You don’t have to do them all, but if I can convince one person to make one positive change- I’ve done something right.
1. Fly Economy Class.
I’m putting this one first because, in addition to the benefits, it’s a nice thing I tell myself when I get stuck in an economy-class seat on a long-haul flight (which is most of the time).
“I’m an eco-warrior. My pain is the planet’s gain.”
I’ll also be clear in noting that any time I get the opportunity for an upgrade, I TAKE IT. Think of it as me moving to the front of the plane so someone else can take my seat in the back, leading to fewer empty seats up front. More people onboard leads to a better ratio of people-to-emissions from the flight… right? (at least, that’s what I tell myself.)
Still, it’s an important part of this list. According to BBC.com, A first-class ticket on a long-haul flight emits, on average, four times as much as an economy seat. This is because the more expensive seats take up more space and weight on the plane. First and business class also tend to end up with more empty seats since they’re too damned expensive cost-prohibitive to many travelers.
2. Choose a responsible airline.
If you are willing to be flexible, it can be helpful to choose your airline carefully. To help with finding out which airlines are better in terms of eco-efforts, a non-profit company called Atmosfair has created a listing to help people to check which airlines produce the least CO2 emissions. Here, you can browse a list of airlines and where they rank on the efficiency index.
This can be tough to digest if you’re super loyal to any one airline (it’s pretty much Delta or bust for me) or just don’t have access to the more highly rated airlines on your flight route.
For example, I’ve never flown #1 in carbon efficiency TUI Airways or, frankly, even heard of it. My beloved Delta comes in at #36 for medium-haul flights and #45 out of 125 overall. Not great, but certainly not the worst!
Even if you can’t do anything to change the airline you need to fly with, it’s good to keep your airline’s efficiency ranking in mind and attempt to offset your flight footprint in other ways.
3. Stay for longer in your destination and book nonstop flights.
The more often you board a flight for takeoff, the more negative impact you’re having on the environment. Choose direct flights instead of those with layovers and if you’re going a long way, stay a while. (A fantastic excuse to take longer vacations!)
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a quick weekend trip away or a multi-destination journey, but consider other cleaner modes of transport if you’re only going for the weekend or hopping around to multiple cities during your trip.
High-speed rail is an excellent alternative to a quick flight. It usually takes close to the same amount of time if you factor in airport security, check-in lines, baggage claim, etc, is infinitely more comfortable, and you get to enjoy the view along the way!
Even putting your travel party into a car and driving to your next destination (as long as there isn’t an ocean in the way) can be a good way to reduce your carbon footprint and still keep to your multi-stop itinerary.
I hate it, but according to BBC.COM, mile for mile, flying is the most damaging way to travel for the climate.
A single flight from London to San Francisco emits the equivalent of 5.5 tonnes of CO2 per person – more than twice the emissions produced by a family car in a year, and about half of the average carbon footprint of someone living in Britain. Even just a flight from London to Berlin emits around 0.6 tonnes CO2 equivalent – three times the emissions saved from a year of recycling.
4. Buy carbon offsets.
Because simply not flying is obviously not an option, buying carbon offsets can be a helpful way to mitigate the damage.
This topic can be confusing or confronting to anyone who isn’t familiar with the concept. I’ll admit, if you don’t understand it properly, it does seem like a way for rich people to pay their way out of their green responsibilities or companies to scam people out of their money.
Whatever you think, buying carbon offsets can be a helpful way to give back to companies who are helping the Earth when there’s not much you can do to reduce your carbon emissions on your own.
Essentially, when you pay for carbon offsets, you’re donating to efforts and projects around the world that are actively helping to reduce carbon emissions and/or neutralize the damage we’ve already done.
The (very simplified) idea is that you’re paying organizations that are working to reduce atmospheric carbon the amount of money it costs them to neutralize the amount of carbon your travel (or whatever) produced.
Typically, you take a short quiz to calculate your carbon footprint and its monetary cost to determine the amount of your donation. Sometimes it’s planting trees, updating power plants or factories, or increasing energy efficiency in the transportation sector. The range of offset work is wide.
Because you’re not buying a tangible product or service, it IS very important that you are sure the organization you’re donating to is legit.
According to SecondNature.org, while there are many standards that issue offsets through the voluntary market, the most widely used are the Climate Action Reserve (CAR), the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), the American Carbon Registry (ACR), and Gold Standard (GS).
Check out these sites and their associated organizations when looking for legitimate avenues to purchase carbon offsets. I’ve also listed a few of my favorites below, but do your own research and make a responsible effort to understand your impact on our fragile climate.
We only get one Earth.
4 Ways to Reduce Your Next Hotel Stay’s Carbon Footprint
3 Ways To Be More Eco-Friendly While You Travel
Tips for Packing Light to Reduce Your Travel Carbon Footprint
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