4 Basic Rules of Sustainable Travel (for the anxious environmentalist in all of us)
As my desire to travel has manifested in the past couple of years into transformative and memorable trips, I have become more aware of the sustainability of these travels I embark on. Whether at a campsite with a large group of friends or while exploring a new city on my own; I am creating an impact on the environment. We all are.
Travel and tourism accounts for a hefty portion of our greenhouse gas emissions and can cause detrimental damage to the places and communities we visit. As someone who wants to see as much of the world as possible, but is often crushed by crippling environmental-anxiety and guilt, I took it upon myself to research ways I can minimize my footprint along my journeys. I’ve compiled a list of 4 basic rules that I think anyone can follow regardless of if you are just starting your path towards a more sustainable life or have been deep in the trenches for a while. All this for the sake of our one and only planet and my own peace of mind.
1. Take the path less traveled
Tourism, though it definitely has its positive impacts on a community when it comes to money and job growth, can be quite destructive as well. The problem is overtourism. We have seen it with the increase in people visiting U.S. national parks during COVID, causing overcrowding and scaring wildlife. We have seen it with Venice where the delicate infrastructure crumbles under the weight of new people visiting daily and disrespecting the city with litter. And we have seen it in New Orleans where the prices of historical residences are racked up to make way for trendy AirBnBs, inevitably pushing out locals that have lived there for years. The problem here is that an influx of people does NOT equate to an influx of money into the communities in all cases (see rule #4). Instead it leads to litter, crumbling infrastructures, eroding natural environments, shattering peace, impending poverty within the communities, and even unfavorable trips for those visiting as well.
Therefore, what we can do is be mindful of where we are visiting. Say you really do want to see Venice. Okay, then go during the off season. Not only will it be a less crowded and enjoyable experience, it is a decision that takes into account your effect on the place you are visiting. Reduce your impact within the herd.
Additionally you can avoid the tourist traps, by investigating what the locals do. Often you will find that restaurants, parks, and landmarks are just as impressive if not more, away from the crowds.
There are also sites like Responsible Travel where you can find trips that give back to the community and get you around the city in an ethical way. Or you can choose to extend your time at a given place by “Slow Travelling” to a desired location. Slow travel is defined by spending weeks or even months in a location to really get to know the place you are visiting as well as the surrounding areas. You get to really immerse yourself in the local culture, take your time seeing everything at your own pace, and it can often be cheaper to make your own meals and find a place to live than booking a pricey hotel with meals every night.
You can jam loudly on a road trip versus on a plane.
2. Choose an eco friendly ride
It will come at no surprise to anyone when I say that the way we transport ourselves, whether by car, train, bus, plane, or ship has an environmental impact. What might surprise you is that transportation accounts for 29% of our greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. alone (according to a 2019 study). For those unaware of what that means, greenhouse gas is responsible for the warming of our planet. According to two climatologists in 2016, they found that every metric ton of carbon dioxide emitted melts our ice caps by 32 square feet.
Now bear with me as I attempt some math. Going off the Carbon Independent calculator, ¼ tonne of carbon dioxide is equivalent to about an hour of flying. If I’m taking a flight from New York to Paris, the flight would be about 7 hours and 30 minutes long, equating to 30 carbon tonnes. This leads to a significant 60 square feet shaved off the Arctic.
(I need you to know that I panicked the entire time I was researching that math equation. Only a small percentage of that panic was because I was doing a math equation by choice.)
If you live in the U.S. the solution isn’t the simplest. In the U.S. we don’t have extensive railway systems to take us across the country and most of our cities lack efficient public transportation due to a lack of supportive city planning. Regardless, anywhere you reside, we have to fly over the ocean to get to other countries. Unfortunately, planes are the worst emitters, the less often you have to fly the more sustainable your travel habits become.
And if you absolutely must fly, there are many airlines now that use biofuel (a fuel made of forestry waste/biomass), consider reading up on a few, but the top eco friendly airlines include: KLM, Jet Blue, and Delta.
Also, book nonstop flights please! The longer the plane is in the air without stopping the more fuel efficient the trip. So it’s a big “NO” on taking a day trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas by plane. If you are traveling more locally, try an alternative form of transport such as a bus, train, or even an electric car if you have access to one. Usually anything electric is a significant step in the right direction. Additionally, the more people in a vehicle the more sustainable the trip. In the end, always consider the distance you're traveling, the amount of passengers occupying the space, and above all question the necessity of the trip.
3. Follow the good ol’ leave no trace principles
Outdoor enthusiasts might already be familiar with the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace. They are a set of ethical guidelines to make certain that your impact on your surroundings is minimal and enjoyable for all.
Yes, I did just sneak seven added rules into a list that was supposed to contain only four, but it’s worth mentioning. These rules don’t just apply to when you are camping or hiking, it also applies to when you are window shopping in a small city in Greece or on a safari tour in Tanzania. If I could summarize them all into one rule it is RESPECT.
When you are visiting somewhere that is not your home Plan Ahead and research what the rules are in said country. What you are allowed to do in Amsterdam will not be allowed in Dubai, and we should respect that. Knowing what you are getting into saves everyone so much time, keeps you and your party out of trouble, and maintains peace within the community you are visiting.
It goes without saying that when you visit someone else’s home you don’t leave your trash strewn about, nor do you take things just because you don’t believe anyone will miss it. (At least I hope not, otherwise I’m going to have to call people’s mothers.) A good rule of thumb when traveling is to bring your own toiletries because it minimizes your need for the provided single use hotel toiletries and thus cuts down on waste. Same rule applies for cutlery, water bottles, and plastic bags - if you can reuse something, it eliminates some of the strain on the community of having to dispose of tourist waste.
Venice Beach not Venice, Italy, but the same rules apply.
4. Spend locally
Unfortunately, in this world, money is how you vote. Money is also the reason we are in this climate crisis, under capitalism importance is given to what earns money. Therefore, if we have to play the game, then why not turn it in favor of those who we want to prosper from it?
Vote with your money.
Rule number four of sustainable travel is to buy your souvenirs locally. Plan your stay at local hotels and bed and breakfasts. Eat at local restaurants and farmers markets. Support the people that make the community you are visiting worth visiting. Support companies that hire the locals and that give money to local businesses. Make sure that the woven bag you bought was actually woven from someone who’s family history has passed down that craft in that town rather than imitated and fabricated in another continent, shipped onto a vessel that uses more inefficient fuel than your average airplane, and the profits are never reinvested into the community again.
If we want to make sure that our visits to other people’s homes remain welcomed, we have to make sure that we are making a positive difference in that community and that they are reaping the benefits of our visit directly. Otherwise what’s the point? Truly.
In addition to that, make sure where you are staying is eco conscious. If you are spending your money on something that is more sustainable, companies will catch on. We will hold these corporations accountable for the toll that they’re ambitions have on our planet. Money is the only thing that will make them see that this matters to all of us.
Obviously we can not omit ourselves from affecting the planet as long as we live. However we can think twice before deciding to fly for a weekend to Australia to visit the Great Coral Reef. The best case scenario is not flying at all. We must work to reduce our individual carbon footprints and to hold each other accountable for doing the same. In reality the most world saving effects would come down to a total reworking of our infrastructure, cultural independence from overconsumption, and radical environmental legislations to keep big corporations and politicians accountable for their unethical actions.
But until that happens, let's do our part. Because if we don’t, then who will?
Safe travels.
Dive Deeper…
