We’ve all heard the phrase “global warming” all the time. For months I started to read the stories of travel as the layer of ice permanently from Kilimanjaro melting as alpine ski areas closed permanently because of a lack of snow, glacier melt in the Arctic, as more and more frequent weather disturbances and disrupt tourism and on stories. Some of these stories inspire us to go now until some of these picturesque places are drawn up or disappeared forever. Climate change is now a concern for global travellers.
Travel, of course, had consequences for the environment. Long-distance journeys results in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, aircraft are some of the pollutants more intense today. In addition, everywhere we go, we consume food and other services and create waste. What should I do?
That aircraft emissions, there are actually a few practical things that we can do. There are ways to offset greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel through the purchase of trees will be planted to offset these emissions. Trees for the future, your $ 40.00 US actually paid for the plant 400 trees will offset commitment of futures of greenhouse gases. You will also receive a certificate of global cooling and a bumper sticker. On their website, you will also see a list of partners, including deposits and rooms of hosts are powered by renewable energy sources.
In fact, the Rainforest Alliance offers a variety of information to travellers of eco-savvy. In addition, they offer certification for sustainable tourism facilities-based methods for the reduction of water consumption, energy and other resources and improve the management, treatment and disposal of waste. Also a toolkit for the best practices in the field of sustainable tourism put at the disposal of businesses in the tourism sector.
On their site, the Rainforest Alliance also calls for a series of simple environmentally behaviors that we can try to follow:
o support for local economies are locally looking for owner of accommodation and dining establishments, locally grown and locally produced food and crafts.
Patronize hotels green or whose managers have programs that save water and energy.
stay on trails. Clean up your mess and dispose of waste properly. Keep a distance from animals in nature.
or travel by public transport where possible.
or avoid vehicles with engines as jet-skis, boats, two-stroke scooter, and some of this huge pollute.
or be culturally sensitive to local customs, greetings, clothing and food habits.
or treat others with the same respect that you need to ask in their community.
Other eco-certification for tour operators and savvy tips for eco-consumer, the following Web sites:
-Earth Choice
-Green Globe 21
-Environmental Choice
-Green Seal
-Global Ecolabelling Network
-The climate neutral network
Another interesting website is the future of forests: lifestyle advocates a “carbon neutral”, for the purpose of circumvention of our impact on the environment. Future forests have proven contacts with a variety of environmental gifts since 1997. For example, you can dedicate a tree, $ 10.00. You can also schedule carbon neutral weddings with the future of forests.
Something neat on their website, is that they have a really cool carbon calculator that allows you to calculate your flight emissions or behavior. I thought let’s check this out, so I entered information for a flight from New York and London, England.
Instantly, I discovered that this flight tonnes 1.22 CO2 could generate. The calculator also told me that, if 2 trees I dedicate this flight carbon neutral can do. Alternatively, I could offer 2 bulbs save for a small community in developing countries. Both options would be £ 30. I checked their computer disk of CO2 emissions. When I travel every week in a car with an engine capacity of 400 km (250 miles) between 1. 4 and 2-litre that should generate four tonnes of CO2 per year, it would take to offset 5 trees.
In addition to planting trees, you can also purchase “carbon dioxide”. A “carbon offset” is actually an investment in a project or an action for the abolition of the greenhouse gas emissions. Compensation in a variety of projects and may include planting trees or reforestation, renovation of buildings (i.e. the installation of more efficient heating and cooling) or wind energy projects.
According to the better world Club Web site, this is how it works: you can book a flight from travel-member of the better world and get a free carbon offsets for their U.S. domestic flight ($ 11). If you book a flight via the Internet, another airline or travel agent to send a donation deductible to offset the CO2 emissions from your vol ($ 11 for domestic flights) or $ 10 for international flights.