Earlier this year, the Swedish term flygskam, or "flight-shaming," was judged responsible for an 8% rise in rail journeys in the country, as travelers became more aware of the environmental impact of their movements and swapped internal flights for train travel.
It's not just air miles that have a carbon footprint. A 2018 report by journal Nature Climate Change found that tourism accounts for about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and that shopping and food are "significant" contributors.
Of course, while refraining from flying saves significantly on carbon emissions, local communities around the world rely on tourism to survive.
So how do you make your travel greener?
Before you go... Adjust your travel patterns
Adjust your travel patterns to include fewer breaks by plane, says Justin Francis
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
"The only way we can reduce our amount of carbon emissions is to fly less," he says. Francis rejects the idea of carbon offsetting schemes -- a 2017 European Commission study found that 85% of such schemes do not work.
Instead, he says, we need to change our travel habits.
"When I was growing up, people tended to take one longer holiday a year, of about two weeks, plus a domestic trip, and maybe one more.
"With the advent of low-cost aviation, many of us are taking multiple flights, and holidays are much shorter.
"If we went back to the style of travel we used to enjoy, we'd achieve the reduction in flights that we need."
Research and plan
Knowledge is everything. Research the fuel efficiency of the plane you plan to travel on, your hotel's stance towards sustainability and community, and the community contributions of your tour operator. If you can't see anything, email, says Miller.
Where and when to go
You can go to Venice -- out of season
MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images
Cut down on your destinations. Staying in one place reduces your carbon footprint and allows you to contribute to the local economy in a more meaningful way. Day-tripping brings in very little money but impacts heavily on infrastructure.
They suggest traveling out of peak season -- that way you're sustaining a year-round economy. If you can't do that, go off the beaten path.
That's not to say you can't see the main sights once you're there. "Just go when it's less crowded," they say.
Tour operator or go solo?
A small tour operator will steer you away from the crowds
Pablo Porciuncula Brune/AFP/Getty Images
Going independently means contributing directly to the local community -- but if you don't want to research all the eco credentials of your trip, travel with responsible tour operators, says Gregory Miller. "They will select hotels for you, steer you away from conspicuous consumption, and get you into the right places at the right times." Yours should outlines how it gives back to the community, manages resources, and minimizes its footprint.
However, keep it small. "Private tours or small groups are the only real option," says Valeria Duflot. "Choose locally based operators or operators committed to making a positive impact."
What to pack
Ask your hotel or tour operator if local schools need supplies
Take a reusable water bottle, straw and picnic set, and remove all plastic packaging -- you don't want to be adding to the waste problem where you're going.
How to fly
Pick a fuel-efficient airline like Norwegian
from Norwegian Airlines
At 22% below the industry average, British Airways was the least fuel efficient.
Of the US airlines, the ICCT's 2016 survey showed Alaska to be the most fuel-efficient, followed by Frontier, Spirit and Southwest.
JetBlue, Delta and Allegiant came bottom.
Miller also singles out Denver, which has 42,000 solar panels and recycles 70% of de-icing fluid.
Finally, fly economy. "In business you're taking up a lot of room, and the consequence is that more planes need to fly," says Justin Francis.
Where to stay
Boracay in the Philippines was closed for six months due to sewage pollution from hotels
Shutterstock
Hotel or self-catering? That depends on your destination.
In overtouristed places such as Venice or Barcelona, pick a hotel -- Airbnb is "taking housing stock out of the market," says Justin Francis. However, make sure that it is eco-friendly in its approach to power, recycling and sewage; and check its links to the community.
However, in other destinations -- Bali for example -- renting a villa owned by a local family can mean putting more money directly into the community than by staying in a hotel.
"If you're in any doubt, a small, family-run hotel is often the best solution," says Valeria Duflot.
"Sewage is probably the number one killer of coral in the past 40 years," he says. Islands rarely have modern modern sewage facilities, meaning that "most of what you flush down the toilet is on the reef in 24 hours."
"This is where freemarket competiton can win out," says Downs, noting that in the notoriously un-green world of cruising, Virgin Voyages -- whose first ship is expected in 2020 -- has committed to advanced wastewater treatment systems.
When you're there... On arrival
Take public transport at your destination -- train is the greenest option
CNN
Unless you can book a transfer in a hybrid vehicle, take public transport says Justin Francis -- or ride-share. According to 2019 figures from the UK government, a car carrying four passengers has a lower carbon footprint per passenger than a bus -- although it's not as low as a coach or a train.
What to eat
Eat local dishes at local restaurants and markets, like Or Tor Kor market, Bangkok
Courtesy Perry Aragon
A 2018 report by journal Nature Climate Change into tourism's overall carbon footprint suggested that tourism-related agriculture, food and beverages accounted for nearly as many CO2 emissions than passengers' air travel.
Cut back on meat and dairy, and stick to food produced and grown in the destination. Local dishes served at local restaurants have a lower carbon footprint than international food, says Justin Francis. And, of course, trying new dishes is more fun.
What to do
If you're in an overtouristed destination like Barcelona, get off the beaten path
Carl Court/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
If you're in a heavily touristed destination, Valeria Duflot and Sebastian Fagarazzi say it's crucial to get off the beaten path. That not only eases the flow of footfall, but it puts you and your wallet in front of a variety of local businesses.
Hire a local guide to show you around, says Justin Francis. And have respect for the local culture -- that means no Instagramming holy spots, crowding markets to take pictures, or doing anything that's likely to disrupt local life. Instead, "Do things that make sure money ends up in the community, and that provide indirect support for natural and cultural heritage." That means stumping up for that museum you may only spend 15 minutes in.
"Cultural" visits to local communities can often feel prurient. Only do one if you pay a fee upfront direct to the community, says Francis.
Sometimes, a less 'authentic' experience -- where you can meet villagers in a specially constructed 'traditional' environment -- is better than encroaching on their homes, he says.
Animal attractions
Elephant rides are some of the cruellest attractions out there, says an expert
Taylor Weidman/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Visits to wildlife attractions account for 20-40% of global tourism, according to a 2015 study by Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit.
"The cruelty is often invisible, but riding elephants, swimming with dolphins and walking with lions are some of the cruelest attractions in the world," he says.
Stewart's rule of thumb: "If you can hug it, ride it or touch it, it's probably experiencing some kind of cruelty." Animals are traumatized and life expectancy is dramatically reduced.
Don't pursue them in the wild for a photo, either. "A good wildlife selfie is where there is no contact between you and the animal, and it can engage or disengage at will," he says.
So what can you do? Sanctuaries which don't put on shows or allow direct interaction with the animals get the thumbs up from Stewart -- though beware of pseudo "sanctuaries" that allow contact. Wildlife watching expeditions -- for example a dolphin-spotting boat trip -- are also fine, as long as you're at a safe distance and not cornering the animals.
On the road
Get a ferry as a foot passenger if it's an option
cunfek/Getty Images
Swap internal flights for public transport -- trains are best, followed by coaches, buses, and fully populated cars. If a ferry is an option, traveling as a foot passenger leaves a lower footprint even than a train. (This doesn't of course, apply to cruises.)
And once you're there, walk or cycle as much as possible.
Thorough screening
Make sure your sunscreen isn't destroying coral reefs
Donald Miralle/Getty Images North America/Getty Images for Lumix
It's estimated that between 6-14,000 tons of sunscreen ends up on coral reefs every year -- and that's contributing to their demise. Oxybenzone and octinoxate, two common chemical ingredients, are thought to be toxic to marine life, and make coral more susceptible to bleaching.
Buy "reef safe" mineral sunscreen based on zinc oxide or titanium oxide, says Craig Downs. More importantly, suit up.
"If you wear a longsleeve UPV sunshirt [which protects against UVA and UVB rays] you're reducing your sunscreen load by 50% and that's a major conservation victory," he says. A parasol gives added protection.
For uncovered skin, don't go over SPF 50 -- this already blocks 98% of UBV rays if applied properly, and the higher the SPF, the higher the chemical content going into the sea.
"An SPF30 that will stick to the skin, reapplied every 45-60 minutes, is adequate," says Downs.
Back home
Follow up by carbon-cutting at home -- ditch the car to work, and cut down on food waste. And email your hotel or tour operator telling them what worked and what didn't.
"We often get feedback saying, 'This was great, but you could have reduced the plastic bottles on that bus trip," says Justin Francis. "Even once you're home, you can still be part of the process."
Why you're doing this
"You can see it as a vote -- where you spend your money determines what future you want for the destination," add Duflot.
Justin Francis is equally positive. "If you gave this advice without mentioning carbon, it could all be advice to help people enjoy their travels a bit more," he says.
"how" - Google News
December 02, 2019 at 10:24AM
https://ift.tt/2P1XgSq
How to travel without destroying the planet - CNN
"how" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2MfXd3I
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "How to travel without destroying the planet - CNN"
Post a Comment