Exploring faraway countries, discovering exotic places, getting to know foreign cultures - for many people, traveling is one of the absolute highlights of their leisure time. But the further away the destinations, the heavier the conscience can weigh: Airplanes in particular generate huge amounts ofCO2 and therefore clearly contradict the desire for a sustainable lifestyle. But even when traveling, there are a few things you can do to significantly reduce your environmental impact.
First of all, it should be mentioned thatCO2 emissions are not the only metric that can be used to measure the sustainability of a trip. The choice of accommodation, the support of local businesses and the treatment of nature on site are just a few other points to consider for a "green" trip. So if you want to do your bit to ensure that the natural beauty of the countries you visit is preserved for a long time to come, you should take the following to heart:
- Avoid flights: As mentioned at the beginning, airplanes are sometimes the biggestproducers of CO2 when it comes to transportation from A to B. It is clear that they are indispensable for certain destinations, but in many cases it is possible to switch to rail, for example, and thus significantly reduce emissions.
- Pack carefully: Care can be taken to protect the environment in the run-up to your trip. A lighter rucksack is not only easy on your back, but also on the means of transportation. In addition, a reusable drinking bottle should not be missing from your luggage - it prevents a lot of plastic waste.
- Choosing the right hotel: It is also worth taking a closer look at the various alternatives when choosing where to stay: Platforms such as "Good Travel" list European accommodation that meets various criteria in terms of sustainability and the Google Hotels service provides particularly sustainable establishments with an environmental certificate.
- Save electricity and water: Just because you don't get the bill yourself at the end of the month doesn't mean you should live lavishly in your hotel room. Showering for too long and leaving the lights on should also be avoided on vacation!
- Support local businesses: It's okay to venture out of the tourist strongholds during your trip. Eating at family-run businesses or shopping at the weekly market supports the local economy and in many cases is even cheaper in the end.
By the way: The Google Travel and Google Flights services offer the function of comparing theCO2 emissions of different travel options. This allows you to make sure you choose the most environmentally friendly route in advance.
