Is Quitting Travel the Only Way to Achieve Sustainability?
A serious topic up for debate…let’s dive in.
In recent years, the question of whether we need to stop traveling to protect our environment has become increasingly discussed. As global awareness of environmental issues rises, many eco-conscious individuals are reevaluating the impact of their travel habits. But is making a promise to never travel again the only path to sustainability, or are there ways we can continue to explore the world while significantly reducing our impact?
Understanding the Impact of Travel: Travel, particularly air travel, is known for its significant carbon footprint. According to studies, aviation accounts for about 2-3% of global CO2 emissions. Long-haul flights can emit as much carbon as some people do in an entire year. Beyond air travel, tourism often leads to environmental degradation in popular destinations, from overcrowded cities to fragile natural landscapes under threat.
Caves Branch Belize: an example of a low-emissions hotel that exists to educate and connect individuals with the natural environment!
In the heart of Belmopan, Belize you will find Caves Branch, a beautiful eco-stay, home to a botanical garden of 3000 species. The garden is dedicated to bringing awareness to the general public about the beauty and importance of Belize’s flora and fauna. I was lucky to explore this place with our photography crew during our stay there.
So, let’s talk about “sustainable” travel - is it really possible? Many sustainability leaders agree that asking people to completely forego global travel is nearly impossible—and perhaps not even desirable. Travel broadens our understanding, connects us globally, and brings us face-to-face with the realities of how our actions impact the world, no matter the distance from our home country. Some might even argue that by NOT experiencing the world, we become isolated and cut off, existing within the borders of our home countries, unable to connect with our greater purpose and recognize the importance of experiences over things. The only way to completely eliminating our footprint is to isolate ourselves within the four walls of our homes, which probably limits our ability to contribute to any real change at all.
Travel can indeed be a force for good if we consciously aim to minimize our environmental footprint and strive to make positive impacts—both social and environmental—in the places we visit. As former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon insightfully noted:
“Reducing the negative impacts of tourism goes much deeper than how we get to our destination. Our focus must be placed on the impact our travels have on local communities, and whether the places we’re visiting will be viewed with wonder or regret in the future.”
This quote underscores the importance of making conscious choices to explore places in ways that mitigate the negative impacts of travel. It also encourages us to think creatively about how our actions can contribute positively to a location, such as participating in garbage cleanups. Here are a few strategies that can help:
Choosing Sustainable Destinations: Opt for destinations known for their sustainability efforts. Cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam are renowned for their green policies and practices.
Low-Impact Transportation: Whenever possible, choose trains, buses, or even carpooling over flying. For shorter distances, consider biking or walking — these not only reduce emissions but also enhance your travel experience.
Switzerland's train system exemplifies sustainable travel through extensive electrification, seamless integration with other public transport, and a strong reliance on renewable energy sources, particularly hydroelectric power.
Supporting Local Economies: Engage with local businesses and communities rather than relying solely on tourist traps. Eat local cuisine, stay in locally-owned accommodations, and purchase crafts and products made by local artisans.
Eco-Friendly Accommodations: Book your stay with hotels or hostels that have credible eco-certifications (i.e. B Corp or LEED). These establishments usually take measures to reduce water and energy consumption and minimize waste.
Responsible Tourism Practices: Be mindful of your behaviour at travel destinations. Respect wildlife, adhere to guidelines, noise levels, and maintain the natural cleanliness and integrity of the places you visit.
Slow Travel: Staying in a place to experience it for longer can actually be a much more rewarding experience. You can learn a new language, spend more time being present and connecting with locals, and immersing yourself in new cultures and traditions you might never have the opportunity to revisit.
Participate in Conservation Projects: Engage directly in efforts to protect and restore the environment by joining conservation initiatives. Whether it’s local wildlife conservation, cleanup drives, or reforestation projects, your participation not only contributes to ecological health but also enriches your travel experience with meaningful action.
Antigua Guatemala is celebrated for its rich colonial history, vibrant streets, and artisan markets. Everywhere you turn, there are vendors offering handmade goods, many of which are locally crafted, and imported itemrs resold in massive markets. Tourism plays a significant role in supporting these local economies. While there are concerns that dependence on tourism might limit the development of self-sustaining economies, it's also true that this kind of change would require major policy shifts. For now, tourists can make a positive impact by consciously supporting local artisans and businesses.
And let’s not forget…
Carbon Offsetting: For unavoidable travel emissions—especially if you need to take a short flight or are spending minimal time in one location—carbon offsetting can be a viable option. This involves investing in environmental projects that reduce CO2 in the atmosphere to balance out your own carbon footprint. While not a perfect solution, it’s a step toward mitigating the impact of necessary travels.
Additional Flying tip:
Some airlines are taking voluntary steps to reduce carbon pollution. Choose airlines that have an efficient fleet and fly their planes with few empty seats.
So have we reached a conclusion? I would argue there really isn’t a right or wrong answer - it lies somewhere in the middle between personal opinion, individual action, and what we are willing to give up.
Out with blame, in with mindfulness: Sustainability involves a complex network of social and environmental issues that go much deeper politically than merely blaming individual actions. While collective action can influence public policy and lead to legislative changes, focusing solely on reducing flights oversimplifies the broader environmental challenges we face.
If you decide to travel this year, consider planning low-impact ways to explore your destination beforehand, participate in environmental or social impact initiatives during your visit, and think about making sustainable swaps in other areas of your life once you return.
We live in a world of 8 billion people, each with different lifestyles, travel patterns, careers, and consumption habits. By examining areas where we can willingly make changes—perhaps taking one flight and exploring a country for a longer period, instead of flying between five countries in two weeks—it’s all about adopting the mindset of need versus want and finding alternative, more responsible ways to do the things we love.
Because in the fight against climate change, imperfect action at the individual level is better than no action at all.