Practical Tips For Green Travel That Go Beyond Social Media Hashtags
As a travel enthusiast, you may have come across green travel on social media and other platforms. At its core, it refers to sustainable travel that minimizes environmental impact through mindful transportation and conscious choices.
Statista reports that travel and tourism added 6.5 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions in 2023. Transportation added as much as 15 percent. Therefore, the need to prioritize green travel is legitimate and urgent.
Photo by Vo Thuy Tien at Pexels
The problem is that many of us struggle to make eco-friendly travel choices because they seem too challenging. These ideas remain confined to social media platforms, showing up as trending hashtags and viral videos. But how much difference do they make on the ground?
Here are some green travel tips that are not too daunting to implement but can make a considerable difference.
Seriously Question That Flight You Booked
There’s no alternative to flights if you want to travel to far-flung places. (Unless you consider cruises, which can potentially be even worse for the environment.) But there’s also no doubt that aviation adds heavily to greenhouse gas emissions. So, what should someone who wishes to travel green do?
First, question the need for the flight. Could you take a train instead—likely more romantic and eventful as well? The International Energy Agency confirms that the carbon emissions from train journeys are much lower. Electric rail does not directly emit any CO2. Additionally, trains can reduce road congestion, improving air quality in high-traffic areas.
For situations when flights are indispensable, consider airlines that actively endeavor to reduce their carbon footprint. Sustainability Magazine admires United Airlines’ investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a greener alternative to jet fuel. Some companies are prioritizing fuel economy per seat and working toward net-zero emission goals in the decades to come.
Participate in Community-Led Initiatives
In Duong Lam Ancient Village, Hanoi, tourists can enjoy a very unique experience that they will likely never forget. As part of Vietnam’s community-based tourism initiatives, visitors can prepare traditional rice cakes and handicrafts alongside local people. They can also learn soy sauce fermentation, which will surely be handy later when they whip up pho in their kitchens!
Initiatives like these are an excellent but immensely enjoyable approach to green travel. They empower local communities and ensure that they benefit directly from tourism. Plus, these programs also prevent the overexploitation of land and water resources for new infrastructure.
As it stands, many communities are already adversely affected by industrial and infrastructural facilities. Recently, news reports indicated that a medical sterilization facility in West Virginia has exposed people to ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen. Currently, ethylene oxide lawsuits aim to establish negligence and its resulting health impact.
According to TorHoerman Law, communities in the vicinity could have faced exposure for years, leading to increased cancer rates.
It’s a troubling world we inhabit. Travel that collaborates with indigenous communities can help them thrive, as opposed to stressing the environment and local resources more. You can start as simply as choosing homestays over large hospitality majors and culturally rich activities over stock, generic experiences.
Consider Carbon Offsetting
Despite the complex-sounding name, carbon offsetting has a simple principle: compensate for the damage that your travel caused to the environment. Since compensating fully is not practical, the best we can do is to offset.
Nowadays, you can invest in carbon credits for projects that lower greenhouse gas emissions. Harvard Business School recommends the CNaught carbon credit portfolio as an effective carbon offsetting investment. The best part is that the translated impact is easy to understand, like $13.50 to offset the emissions of a flight from San Francisco to Boston.
That said, let this practice not become an excuse to travel irresponsibly: damage once done is hardly ever possible to eliminate in one neat stroke. When offsetting programs are not much more than a method to soothe a worried conscience, the chances of making a hasty, poor decision are high.
In general, choosing carefully vetted programs can stop you from falling prey to greenwashing. Business Traveller recommends certified initiatives and projects that also contribute to biodiversity or sustainable development. As a thumb rule, unrealistic results and over-promoted projects are rarely authentic.
Traveling is one of the purest joys in the world. It brings the thrill of exotic places, gastronomic adventures, and an escape from humdrum everyday life. What’s not to love? The environment, though, often begs to differ, struggling under the impact of all that transportation and infrastructure development.
Considering how starkly visible the impact of climate change has become, green travel is more a necessity than an option. It can help us, as ardent wanderers, explore the world more responsibly. In the process, we can also enrich our souls with culturally stirring experiences and feel connected to the natural world.