Green or ‘Ethical’ Travel

Jetting around the world and thus increasing your ‘carbon footprint’ in the process has become a bit of an ethical dilemma for many people conscious of the environment but also keen to get out and see the world.   The aviation industry is one of the world’s bigger polluters; a big contributor in speeding up the effects of global warming.  You can either stay at home, or better still is travelling with a few basic green travel tips in mind to minimise your impact on the environment.

Many airlines will offer to offset your carbon emissions at the time of booking your flight (usually for a small fee). If you are unsure of the worth of these programs you can always google the organisation the airline plans to give your money to before you pay.  Alternatively, there are quite a few internet sites you can use to minimise your impact if you are concerned.

Go Green Travel Green (http://www.gogreentravelgreen.com/) is a comprehensive resource for eco conscious travellers.  Has worthy reviews of the better carbon offset programs and heaps of tips for responsible travel.

Carbon Neutral (http://www.carbonneutral.com.au/) is an Australian carbon offset site

Responsible Travel (http://www.responsibletravel.com/) is a site that sells holiday packages from a range of companies that meet strict responsible travel guidelines.

 Accommodation

On the accommodation side of things the words ‘eco lodge’ or hotel seem to be everywhere these days.  Staying in one of these places does not have to mean roughing it with long drop toilets and the like; these places can cater for one to five star tastes.  Just be sure you know what you are getting. The word ‘eco’ can just mean sky high prices; perhaps the organic apple of the tourism industry.

While on the road the same common sense approach to leaving a small footprint applies as it does back at home in Australia.  Taking public transport or walking, not littering, avoiding any animal based souvenirs (such as coral, bone or turtle shell) are easy ways to minimise your impact.

Even further you could look into volunteering with a local organisation on conservation projects as part of your trip.  Check out the volunteering pages for more on this or have a look at other transport options on the On the road pages.

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