Your Carbon Footprint
The media has been full of stories about climate change for years and if you’re not part of a certain Republican administration, you’ll understand that climate change is very real and very serious. The thinning of the ozone layer is a result of human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, the use of aerosols and irrigation. These have all contributed to the general rise in global temperature and the melting of glaciers. Combating climate change and preserving the earth for the future has become one of the greatest challenges facing our generation.
There is a great deal you can do to make your mark in the fight against the destruction of our planet. The first way is to reduce, reuse and recycle. For the traveller – have a reusable bag or make use of the day bag you cart everywhere. This way you don’t pick up plastic bags that ultimately end up in landfill sites.
Consider what items you are buying and the way they’re packaged. Individually wrapped items that come in a box or individually wrapped selections of fruit and vegetables are just wasteful. Make an effort to buy products that will produce the least amount of waste. In the UK, when you get a takeaway from a Chinese or Indian restaurant, your meal is usually served in a reusable, microwavable dish. This is for the convenience of being able to reheat your food when you get home. However this is also convenient because it can be used as a free piece of Tupperware. So when you’re on your way to the park, museum or beach, you’ve got a handy package to carry all your snacks. It’s environmentally friendly and it’s easy on your pocket book.
If you’re staying at a hostel that doesn’t have an active recycling program in place, make a note of pointing it out to the Manager that they should amend this.
And as a backpacker or a traveller of any sort, be it a flashpacker or an international businessman, the amount of Carbon Dioxide you produce when you fly is an issue. A decade ago the fight to reduce carbon emissions was led by the carpooling initiative, the popularisation of public transport and the introduction of bike lanes. Now the focus has to be shifted to the increasing amount of pollution dumped into the atmosphere by the aviation industry.
Studies on air travel have shown that it is making a growing contribution to climate change and can have a serious impact on local air quality. According to the government website www.direct.gov.uk, emissions from flying could make up a quarter of the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2030.
Despite a 70% increase in the fuel efficiency of planes over the last 40 years, the total amount of fuel burned has still increased. This is due to an even higher growth in air traffic.
According to a communication from the Commission of the European Communities, emissions from international flights will, by 2012, have increased a total of 150% since 1990. This growth would offset more than a quarter of the reductions required by the Community’s target under the Kyoto Protocol.
There are a lot of ideas in the pipeline for tackling this problem. These include making European airlines part of European Union Emissions Trading Scheme and introducing a single air traffic control system for Europe to reduce the time planes spend in the air, waiting to land. Other plans include developing cleaner technology and increasing the tax on flights, but until something is agreed upon, you can get involved and do something right now.
Increased pollution has a lot to do with how cheap and easy it is to get around the European continent with low cost airlines. People are flying more and thinking less about alternatives like ferries and trains.
How you can make a difference:
Travel Less
Explore the country you call home rather than heading far a field for exotic experiences. Of the many Australians I’ve met, it usually turns out that I’ve seen more of their country than they have.
If you’re feet are itching to explore a foreign continent then take one longer trip as opposed to several shorter ones. The flash packing trend that has taken over the travel community is detrimental to the preservation of the environment. Going away for long weekends on a regular basis instead of accumulating your holidays and splashing out on a two or three week exploration of one country, increases the amount of carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere. With a longer holiday you’ll learn so much more about the people and the culture and you will help to protect the environment.
Change Your Mode of Transport
Consider buses, rail and sea travel. If you book in advance these options can often be cheaper than flying. It might take longer but it’s an opportunity to take in the passing scenery, really get to know the person in the seat next to you, catch up on your sleep, read that book you’ve left on the shelf for a year, research your destination and really plan out your holiday.
Offset Your Impact on Climate Change
If you must travel, because of work or because it’s what you were put here to do, then be a responsible traveller. This can be done by supporting projects that work to reduce CO2 emissions. You can also use solar or wind powered projects to generate electricity and counterbalance your CO2 emissions in other areas of your life.
Every Little Bit Helps
When travelling to the airport, leave your car at home. Rather than compound your destructive habits, make a small adjustment and leave your car behind. Taking public transportation will be quicker, easier, cheaper and greener. You don’t have to fight your way through traffic, save your energy for fighting your way through security. You don’t have to pay astronomical parking costs. And the overall emissions from your journey will be less.
For a idea of how CO2 emissions vary from planes, trains and automobiles, consider the following journey’s, again from www.direct.gov.uk.
Journey - London to Paris
Plane: 3.5hrs. 244kg/CO2
Train: 2.75hrs. 22kg/CO2
Journey - London to Barcelona
Plane: 4.5hrs. 277kg/CO2
Train: Overnight Sleeper 40kg/CO2
Journey - London to Tangier
Plane: 5hrs. 435kg/CO2 48hrs.
Train: Sleeper Train & Ferry. 63kg/CO2
The choice is yours.
