As more of us voyage across the globe, our carbon footprints skyrocket, increasing global warming dramatically. Though I am not here to induce guilt about your hopes of holidaying with pals, we just need to think a little greener about travelling to lands of sun, sea, and sand the year.
A couple of tips to bit amp up the eco on your next trip:
Public transport is your friend…
Public transport in other destinations isn’t always as easy as hopping on and off our beloved metro, so all you need to do is a bit of planning. Instead of relying on last minute Ubers and taxis, download that bus timetable, see if there is a tram or even plan walking routes to your bucket list sites. Renting bikes may be the way to go for more confident travellers, but ultimately, there is nothing a little forward-thinking can’t do.
Climate conscious shopping…
Everyone loves a little splurge on new holiday clothing, no matter the climate you’re travelling to. However, fast fashion continues to pollute our seas and poison our air. Green Peace shockingly states that around 300,000 tonnes of clothing are either burned or submerged into landfill every year. In light of this, if you really feel the need to add a few new items to your wardrobe, head to your local charity shops or borrow from friends. Steering clear of the likes of Shein saves money and reduces that carbon footprint- a pretty good compromise!
It seems only fair for the future of our planet to make our own revisions...
Location, location, location…
When deciding on the destination of your next adventure, take a quick step back and think about how you will get to your destination. Plane or train perhaps? Well, the greener mode of transport is certainly train, omitting 7 times less CO2 than plane travel. Now, I realise that if you dream of safari-ing in the reserves of Kenya or hiking the Rockies across the pond, trains are getting you nowhere. However, the point I am trying to raise is keep climate in mind. Perhaps after travelling across Asia last summer, you decide to have a holiday closer to home- car sharing with friends to the Lakes anyone? Or if your heart is set on going abroad, maybe interrailing is calling your name- tick off those European destinations that have been littering your bucket list, whilst reducing omissions by avoiding plane travel.
At the end of the day, none of this is meant to put you off any wayfaring you have planned for next month, next year or post-uni, but it seems only fair for the future of our planet to make our own revisions to itineraries that will make the world of difference. It’s time to make our adventures a little greener but just as enjoyable.