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Phil Hopkins
Group Travel Editor & Theatre Correspondent
@philhopkinsuk
7:00 AM 1st December 2021
travel

Eco-Friendly Tips To Minimise Your Travel Carbon Footprint

 
Photo: Jeremy bishop, www.unsplash.com
Photo: Jeremy bishop, www.unsplash.com
Life is constantly on the move, none more so than when we are packing our bags for that well-earned holiday. But have you ever considered the 'footprint' ramifications of your leisure time on the environment?

When it comes to choosing our mode of transport, duration is usually our primary concern, and we tend to select the option that gets us from A to B in the shortest amount of time. However, the environmental consequences of this buying decision are gradually taking their toll on our planet.

Tourists visiting the stunning Sicilian area of Syracuse last August, for instance, will have certainly experienced one of climate change’s detrimental effects as thermometers registered an unbearable and record temperature of 48.8°C (119.84 °F). Therefore, the next time we plan a trip, might it be wise to carefully weigh another important factor: how can I reduce my travel carbon footprint?

Here we set out some expert tips that could come in handy when organising your future eco-friendly travels:

WHEN YOU TRAVEL
Digital tickets
Book your tickets but, rather than printing them off, save a digital version on your phone: switching to paperless documents is the first step towards making your holiday as sustainable as possible.

Train or plane?
It is no secret that aviation emissions contribute dramatically to climate change. That said, it is also true that planes can comfortably cover distances that would otherwise seem insurmountable.

Therefore, our suggestion would be to book a flight if the plane journey lasts three or more hours but, when travelling within your country’s borders, try to opt for a train ride instead. Studies show that by hopping on a train rather than a domestic flight, you are reducing your carbon footprint by 84%. Not only that, the scenery outside your window as you dart along the rail is unbeatable, and you are doing nature a whole lot of good!

Flying tips
Prior to the ongoing pandemic, travelling by plane had become increasingly popular, with about 4 billion passengers flying every year. As we slowly return to our beloved travels abroad, there are a few actions we can take to ensure that we are minimising our personal negative impact on the environment.

Fly direct: when booking a flight, search for non-stop routes. Changing planes at airports will increase your carbon footprint, as aircraft use most fuel when taking off and landing.
Use your local airport: if you are lucky enough to have a well-connected airport not far from your home, make sure to choose your local one over options that are further away. It will both limit petrol consumption and save you time.
Travel light: there is always an impulse to pack your entire wardrobe when setting off on an adventure, but it would be wise to only fill your suitcase with things you really need. Every item on a plane makes it heavier. And the heavier the plane, the more fuel is needed.
Fly cheap: this is a win-win situation: save precious spending money and help the planet. By travelling in economy, seats are smaller, and more people can be carried with the same amount of fuel. According to a World Bank study, if you were to fly in business or first class instead, your emissions would be three times higher.

WHEN YOU’RE THERE
You have finally arrived and are ready to enjoy your well-deserved vacation. Even when in loco, there are some specific actions you can take to continue having an unforgettable eco-friendly holiday.
Hotels.

With a touch of mindfulness, however, you can minimise the impact of your stay.

Firstly, leave the “do not disturb” sign on the door so that staff do not enter your room to clean it when there is no need to. Similarly, fold and hang your towels instead of throwing them on the floor. Hotel laundry services not only are generally quite expensive, they also consume an unnecessary amount of water.

Also, act as if you were at home and had to pay your own bills: use lighting, water, and heating responsibly.
Travel, buy, and eat locally

As you land in Barcelona, the city is there for you to discover. You can stroll along La Rambla, take pictures outside the Camp Nou and the Sagrada Familia, and walk around the enchanting Parc Güell. Wherever you go in the world, make sure to experience the place to the fullest.
Photo: Annie Spratt, www.unsplash.com
Photo: Annie Spratt, www.unsplash.com

Why not consider exploring your holiday destination on foot or by bicycle? Get lost in its traditional alleyways, chat to locals, and reduce your carbon footprint to the bare minimum. Also, try traditional dishes made from locally grown products and buy souvenirs from local artisans: you will be supporting the local economy and drastically cutting the kilometres your food and keepsakes have to travel to get to you.

Eco-friendly experiences
If you are up for some breathtaking and adventurous experiences which will stick with you forever, there are some sustainable options that you should definitely look into. Here are a few that caught our imagination:

Hop aboard the Shinkansen – With an Orient Express vibe going for it, the Shinkansen is a speed train that shoots through Japan in around eight hours, taking passengers from the bustling capital city of Tokyo to the remote and snowy Sapporo in the country’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. Japanese speed trains are substantially cleaner than diesel-powered lines, and this particular journey will allow you to admire mesmerising contrasting landscapes while having a low impact on the environment.
Cross the Andes and bathe in two oceans – Taking several days to complete, the Expreso Internacional Ormeño is a 6,300km bus trip (the longest in the world) that extends from the Pacific to the Atlantic. It is an unforgettable, slightly crazy endeavour that will transport you through the Andes without the need to board a plane.
The ultimate alpine routes – If your dream is to delve into the mountainous Swiss villages and settle down in a different cosy inn every evening, the Haute Route is for you. Walk or cycle from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn and enjoy the eco-friendliest tour of them all!

However, if you would rather take in the marvellous views of the Alps while relaxing and leaning back on a comfy seat, hop on the OBB train and contemplate the Austrian peaks from Graz to Innsbruck (or Zurich in Switzerland).

With free railway Wi-Fi connectivity on board, you will have the chance to take stunning pictures along the way and immediately share them with friends and family on social media.

And there you have it – please feel free to follow these suggestions to travel and spend your well-deserved holiday in a sustainable and environmentally conscious way.

Sources
https://www.reservations.com/blog/tips-tricks-budgets/carbon-footprint-travel/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-48206946
https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/travel/sustainable-tourism-travel-carbon-footprint-tips-353722
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/11-smart-ways-to-reduce-your-travel-footprint_b_593ff5c7e4b094fa859f1bc8
https://ourworldindata.org/travel-carbon-footprint
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/12/world/europe/sicily-record-high-temperature-119-degrees.html