| We all hear the term "global warming" all the time. | | | | habits.o Treat others with the same respect that you |
| During recent months I have started to read travel | | | | would ask for in your own community. |
| stories how the permanent ice cap of Mount | | | | Other eco-certification programs for tourism |
| Kilimanjaro is melting, how ski resorts in the Alps are | | | | operators and tips for eco-savvy consumers include |
| going to be closing permanently due to lack of snow | | | | the following websites: |
| fall, how glaciers are melting in the Arctic, how | | | | - Terra Choice |
| increasingly more frequent and severe weather | | | | - Green Globe 21 |
| disturbances are disrupting tourism, and on and on | | | | - Environmental Choice |
| the stories go. Some of these stories even exhort us | | | | - Green Seal |
| to go now before some of these scenic places will | | | | - The Global Ecolabelling Network |
| be transformed or gone forever. Climate change has | | | | - The Climate Neutral Network |
| now become an issue of concern for global travelers. | | | | Another interesting website is Future Forests: it |
| Travel, of course, has environmental consequences. | | | | advocates a "carbon neutral" lifestyle, in order to |
| Long-distance travel involves the creation of carbon | | | | neutralize our impact on the environment. Future |
| dioxide and other greenhouse gases, airliners are | | | | Forests have been proving people with a variety of |
| some of the most intense pollutants in existence | | | | environmental gifts since 1997. You can dedicate a |
| today. In addition, wherever we go, we consume | | | | tree, for example, for $10.00. You can even plan |
| food and other services, and we create waste. So | | | | carbon-neutral weddings with Future Forests. |
| what to do? | | | | One neat thing about their website is that they offer |
| As far as airplane emissions are concerned, there are | | | | a really cool carbon emissions calculator that allows |
| actually a few concrete things we can do. There are | | | | you to calculate your anticipated flying or driving |
| ways of offsetting the greenhouse gas emissions | | | | emissions. I thought let's check this out, so I entered |
| generated by air travel by means of purchasing trees | | | | some assumed data for a flight from New York City |
| that will be planted to offset these emissions. At | | | | to London, England. |
| Trees for the Future, your US$40.00 will actually pay | | | | Instantaneously I found out that this flight would |
| for the planting of 400 trees which will help offset | | | | produce 1.22 tonnes of CO2. The calculator also tells |
| greenhouse gases. You will also get a Global Cooling | | | | me if I dedicate 2 trees I can make this flight carbon |
| Certificate and bumper sticker. On their website you | | | | neutral. Alternatively I would be able to supply 2 |
| will also see a list of partners, including lodges and | | | | energy saving light bulbs to a small community in the |
| bed and breakfasts that are powered by renewable | | | | developing world. Both options would be £30. I |
| energy sources. | | | | also checked their carbon emissions driving calculator. |
| The Rainforest Alliance actually offers a variety of | | | | If I travel 400 km (250 miles) every week in a car |
| information to eco-savvy travelers. They also offer a | | | | with an engine size between 1.4 and 2 litres, I would |
| sustainable tourism certification to tourism | | | | generate 4 tonnes of CO2 a year, which would take |
| establishments which is based on methods for | | | | 5 trees to offset. |
| reducing the consumption of water, energy and | | | | In addition to planting trees, you can also purchase |
| other resources, and to improve the management, | | | | "carbon offsets". A "carbon offset" is actually an |
| handling and disposal of waste. They even make a | | | | investment in a project or action with the goal of |
| toolkit for best sustainable tourism practices available | | | | eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. Offset projects |
| for small and medium enterprises in the tourism | | | | come in many varieties and may include tree planting |
| industry. | | | | or reforestation, building retrofits (i.e. installing more |
| On their website, the Rainforest Alliance also | | | | efficient heating/cooling systems) or wind power |
| advocates a number of simple eco-friendly | | | | projects. |
| behaviours that we can all try to follow:o Support | | | | According to the Better World Club's website, this is |
| local economies by seeking out locally owned lodging | | | | the way it works: you can book a flight through |
| and dining establishments, locally grown food and | | | | Better World Travel - Members and get a free |
| locally manufactured products and crafts.o Patronize | | | | carbon offset for their US domestic flight ($11 value.) |
| green hotels whose managers have programs that | | | | If you book a flight through the Internet, another |
| save water and energy.o Stay on hiking trails. Clean | | | | travel agency or airline, send them a tax-deductible |
| up your own mess and dispose of waste properly. | | | | donation to offset the CO2 emissions from your |
| Keep a distance from wildlife.o Travel by mass transit | | | | flight. ($11 for domestic flights or $22 for international |
| as much as possible.o Avoid vehicles with two-stroke | | | | flights.) |
| engines such as jet skis, scooters and certain boats, | | | | So the good news is there are indeed ways of |
| which are enormously polluting.o Be culturally sensitive | | | | counterbalancing the environmental impact that we all |
| to local customs, greetings, dress codes and food | | | | have, even while we travel. |