This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s summer editorial intern Emma Zumbo. Find her on Instagram at @emmarzumbo. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
The world is a vast and beautiful place. From man-made wonders like the Colosseum, the Pyramids, and the Taj Mahal, to natural spectacles like Victoria Falls, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Great Barrier Reef, the list of incredible places to visit is never ending. And that’s not even mentioning the excitement and joy that comes from trying new foods, learning about new customs, and meeting new people that travel can bring. It’s no wonder why so many of us love to travel and make it one of our life’s priorities to explore as many destinations as possible (calling myself out here). But, despite its many wonders and potential benefits, travel is now more than ever something of a moral quandary.
The negative impacts of travel are becoming increasingly well documented and clear. Whether it’s questions surrounding overtourism, cultural disrespect and neo colonialism, or environmental impact, it’s apparent that the time has come for a conscious reckoning with our collective travel habits.
One of the primary negative effects of travel is its contribution to climate change. With the threat of climate disaster looming ever larger and the effects of man-made emissions already widely starting to be felt, we must ask ourselves how we can adjust our travel habits to be more sustainable.
The Impact Of Travel On Climate Change
The primary way in which travel plays a part in climate change is through transport emissions, mainly through air travel. According to a recent study, “tourism is responsible for roughly 8% of the world’s carbon emissions”. Transport is not the only culprit though – unsustainable commodities purchased by travelers, displacement of people and resources to accommodate lodging, and general pollution and trash left behind by tourists, all contribute to the negative environmental impact of travel.
So, what are we to do? Give up travel all together and only explore our most immediate surroundings? Sometimes that seems like the most morally viable answer. But then, admittedly, my wanderlust kicks in – the thought of spending the rest of my life not experiencing the joys of travel is frankly not a happy one, and I don’t think I’m alone in feeling that way. For example, a study published in the journal Travel Behaviour and Society found that although most “globally affluent, highly mobile young urbanites” are highly climate aware and understand the negative impacts of air travel, “ few are willing to alter their flight behaviour” and continue to cite various reasons to justify their travel behavior.
It might be that that’s morally unforgivable. Yet, if we are to face reality and accept that travel will continue, we must find ways to make travel more sustainable. Here are five ways to make your next trip more sustainable:
Adjust The Way You Fly
Aviation is the travel industry’s biggest contributor to climate change. Aviation accounts for 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and, when taking into account other atmospheric gasses and pollutants, studies have estimated that aviation really has accounted for 3.5-4% of “global temperature rise since pre-industrial times”. Furthermore, the United Nations World Tourism Organization “has projected that transport-related CO2 emissions will grow 25% by 2030”.
Although it can be easy to dismiss the contributions of regular commercial flyers in the face of the ultra-rich and their private jets, it’s important that each of us assume individual responsibility for our travel choices – the collective sum of our actions could have a real impact. There are various ways to contribute to the decrease of aviation emissions, like choosing other modes of transportation over flying whenever possible – if there is a way to reach your destination by train, bus, or car, consider it, even if it might require more time. Think about choosing destinations closer to home, and, when you arrive at your destination, try to avoid flying within a country, and do your research before flying – use tools like online carbon emissions calculators and be aware of what airlines you will be using, since emissions can vary by type of aircraft.
Slow Travel
The idea of slow travel is essentially to encourage travelers to take more time during their trips. Of course, taking extended vacation days might not be a reality for everyone, but even deciding to spend the limited time you do have in a single destination, rather than hitting multiple places in one trip, is a way to slow travel. Consider taking one longer trip a year rather than various shorter ones. And if you do have more time to devote to your trip, think about non-traditional ways to travel like walking or cycling through a country, or spending extended periods of time in one city or locale.
Use Sustainable Travel Products And Avoid Single-Use Plastics
Preparing for a trip often involves a lot of purchases. Whether it’s clothes, luggage, gadgets, or other things you deem necessary for your trip, make sure that the products you’re buying are sustainably made. Bring reusable containers for things like toiletries, and make sure to pack a water bottle – plastic water bottles tend to be one of the biggest tourist purchases, and the harmful effect of plastic on the environment is well known by now. And, of course, make sure to leave no trace or trash behind when visiting places, especially natural attractions.
Eat And Shop Local
One of the best parts of traveling is undoubtedly getting to experience the culinary delights of a country, and perhaps indulging in some shopping. Rather than visiting the same chain and big name restaurants and stores that you can find anywhere and that contribute heavily to pollution, frequent local establishments only. Eating at local restaurants that use local ingredients is more sustainable, as is shopping for products made with local resources and that have not been imported from overseas.
Choose Sustainable Accommodations And Activities
When choosing lodging and activity operators, go with greener businesses. Look for a company’s specific practices and policies and how they impact the environment. Choose accommodations that take into account the local landscape and community. Eco-tourism is a growing trend in the travel industry, so it’s now easier than ever to make conscious choices about where we stay and the things we do when on a trip.
Traveling can be a beautiful experience, and it is understandably something that most people want to do, but it should not occur at the expense of the environment, or in a way that further exacerbates an already dire climate prospect. It is true that, if we are to have a decisive impact on curbing global emissions and if we are to truly begin building for a more sustainable future, large structural changes will need to happen, and quickly. While that may be the case, we also each need to reshape our own individual choices so that they don’t contribute to climate change, and we must commit ourselves to the practice that our desires (for travel, entertainment, material goods) should not simply take precedence over environmental concerns. The truth is that, if we don’t change our ways, the beautiful world that we are so eager to explore might soon cease to exist as we now know it.
Are you determined to travel more sustainably? Let us know in the comments below!
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