We can travel further and further to discover the world. However, travelling is not without a struggle or impact on the climate. "One return ticket to Bali has the same climate impact per person as four years of driving," says Babette Porcelijn (initiator of 'Think Big Act Now' and author of the book De Hidden Impact, about eco-neutral living)
Sustainable travel is not as difficult as it may seem. Our colleague Robert Okhuysen has acquired a lot of knowledge about sustainable tourism and travel during his career. He is therefore happy to tell you how best to make a more sustainable trip.
For me, sustainable travel means making conscious choices, treating nature and the local population with respect and considering the environment.
Start from home
Sustainable travel starts from home. When choosing a destination, select a destination that focuses on sustainability. For example, where is green energy used and water consumption well regulated? Various destinations offer (certified) sustainable accommodations. These are accommodations where sustainability is considered while maintaining comfort and quality.
Not only can you make your destination more sustainable, but also your activities. Walking, cycling, camping, and thus choosing a sustainable destination are the primary means of completing your trip. This keeps your CO2 emissions as low as possible during the trip.
Give back to the locals
But sustainability goes much further than that. During a trip, you use the facilities of a country. So try to give back to the locals. Support the local population by, for example, buying local products and supporting local initiatives whose proceeds go back into the community. With this, you help to preserve these beautiful places.
Avoid litter
Nature is so incredibly vulnerable. Therefore, avoid litter during your trip. Always take your waste with you and do not leave a mess where you have been. Just like at home, right?
Sustainable travel
It's always a good idea to stay as close to home as possible to minimize your carbon footprint. If you continue on your journey, preferably choose the train, especially within Europe. And if you do opt for the plane, fly directly to the desired destination. When you make a stopover, it costs more CO2 emissions.
Finally, for your remaining CO2 emissions from your flight, you can opt for fair CO2 compensation. You can find more information about this on our website: https://www.fairclimatefund.nl/compenseren
A fair climate starts with yourself!