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10 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint When You Travel
Josh okungbaiye
Every time you are traveling, you are adding a significant number of gases to the atmosphere, which then leads to the concern of climate change. Air travel is responsible for the most substantial part of your carbon footprint. There are a few things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment. Here is a list of ten ways you can do it while traveling.
Travel Light
Every passenger is guaranteed to have a bag with them, but when each person is bringing more than two luggage on the plane, they are engaging in the problem. The more weight the plane carries, the more fuel the aircraft will need. When packing, think about if you need that item and how much clothes and products you need for your trip. Simplify your packing and try to fit what you need into a backpack with many compartments to make transit easier and to also play your part in reducing your carbon footprint when travelling
2. Take a Direct Flight
The bulk of the plane's carbon emissions is when it is taking off and landing. For this reason, you would be dramatically saving the environment by taking longer and non-stop flights.
3. Fly Economy
If you fly first class or business class, your carbon emissions are at least three times more than if you decide to travel in economy. The seats are smaller, meaning more people can be flown using the same fuel.
4. Purchase Carbon Off-Setting
If you must travel by plane, the smartest thing you can decide to offset the carbon emissions of your travel. A carbon offset is an amount of money you can pay for a project that reduces greenhouse gases somewhere else. If one ton of carbon is offset, one ton of greenhouse gases would be destroyed instead of being released into the atmosphere. There are multiple of offset calculators you can find on the Internet that estimates the carbon emissions of your flight and the amount of money it would need to offset them.
5. Take an Alternative Travel Method
Instead of taking a flight, which would create lots of carbon emission, you can opt to ride a train or the bus. Especially if your flight would have been three hours, an alternative option would be easy to find. By putting fewer cars on the road, there will be a reduced amount of exhaust filling the atmosphere.
6. Walk, Bike, and Use Public Transportation at Final Destination
Traditional cars put out a lot of exhaust, which pollutes the air. You will cut down on gas and save yourself a lot of stress if you don't drive in the new town. Walking and biking will allow you to explore and see more of the city than if you were in a car. It requires much less energy to produce a bike than to manufacturer a car. Also, you will get to exercise your muscles while helping the environment.
7. Consider Traveling to More Eco-Friendly Places
There are many cities and places that are incorporating environmental advances. Consider taking a trip to destinations that are less harmful than others. You will be surprised to know that the most beautiful places can be the greenest. Find out what these destinations could be in our World's Most Eco-Friendly Cities blog article.
8. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
This simple act is something that can be easily forgotten. Try to avoid the single-use of plastics and paper products. If you didn't happen to bring a reusable water bottle, try to purchase one once you are at your destination. If this is not achievable, opt to buy products that are recyclable and that have minimal packaging to minimize excess. Hence, be more mindful of what you are purchasing and find a way you can keep that item out of the landfill. Properly recycle all plastic, paper, and glass that you might come across. Most major cities have recycled compost and bins spread throughout the city.
9. Support Local Markets and Cuisines
The best part about traveling would have to be trying new food. But to partake in reducing carbon emission, try to either buy food from locally sourced and made foods. This all includes plant-based, organic, and unprocessed foods from a local farmer's market. Also, remember to only order what you need and are going to eat to minimize food waste.
10. Save Electricity
When you are leaving for the day, do not forget to turn off all lights and unplug any cords. Turning down the thermostat and water heater would help as well. Not only will you save energy, but you can save money too.
Written By Nhi Nguyen