Tourism contributes significantly to global warming. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), tourism accounts for around five percent of global CO2 emissions. Travel, especially flying, produces a particularly large amount of greenhouse gases that damage the climate [1].
However, CO2 offsetting could help you reduce your ecological footprint. So if a flight cannot be avoided, offset your CO2 emissions with a reputable provider that only carries out climate protection projects that meet the highest standards of strict international norms.
Travelling and CO2 emissions
Jetting to Ibiza for the weekend? Flying to New York for a shopping weekend? While for some, travel is part of everyday life, people are increasingly recognising how problematic travel can be for the environment. Most forms of transport emit huge amounts of CO2, despite advancing technologies working to tackle this in recent years. So, should we forego our well-deserved holidays because of these emissions?
Most people, no matter how environmentally conscious they are, would shudder at the idea of not being able to travel to another country. So, adopting ways to travel abroad while limiting the damage caused is something to consider.
Take a climate-friendly holiday
Why not take a holiday close-by and travel by bus or train? Both of these modes of transportation produce significantly less CO2 than air travel. [2] If it is absolutely necessary to travel to an unknown region far away, search for other possibilities such as long-distance trains in order to protect the climate and avoid the plane. In this case, of course, you need more time for arrival and departure.
Compensate CO2 when travelling
If you feel guilty about your trip, you can compensate for the CO2 emissions. This involves calculating the amount of CO2 emissions released by your chosen transport mode. A compensation calculator then calculates the amount based on the travel data. The money you donate will be used elsewhere in the world to ensure that fewer emissions are produced there.[3] While this method compensates for your emissions, not flying at all is still the best option. [4]
How CO2 compensation works
Climate neutralisation, or CO2 compensation, is a growing business model, so it is increasingly easy for the average person to compensate their emissions created through travelling.
You simply need to:
- Log on to websites of CO2 compensators
- Indicate what type of trip you are planning and want to neutralise
- The calculator calculates the emissions and the price that has to be paid to neutralise these emissions[5]
If you pay the amount quoted, you will have neutralised the carbon dioxide emissions, even before you have gone away!
The idea is that in the end, the entire system will be climate-neutral or, more correctly, CO2-neutral. The money is used in climate protection projects to bind greenhouse gases.
For example, trees are planted or drained moors are rewetted because they bind CO2. There are also projects that promote the expansion of renewable energies and thus prevent emissions.
Now you can travel with a clear conscience!
Sources:
[1] Climate change: Should you fly, drive or take the train?
[2] Vacation Guide, https://wwf.panda.org/get_involved/live_green/travel/on_vacation/
[3] How to actually compensate your CO2 Emissions, https://www.wander-lust.nl/how-to-actually-compensate-your-co2/
[4] Paying for climate protection: How CO2 offsetting for flights works, https://www.dw.com/en/paying-for-climate-protection-how-co2-offsetting-for-flights-works/a-48475968
[5] Offset your flight emissions!, https://co2.myclimate.org/en/flight_calculators/new
