Sustainable Travel

A readlist exploring how to travel as sustainably as possible.

• Sustainability is a buzzword of sorts, and one might be forgiven for thinking that sustainability and travel can simply not co-exist, with flying being the most damaging way to travel for the climate.
• Around 2.4% of global CO2 emissions come from aviation, and overall, the aviation industry is responsible for around 5% of global warming. Domestic flights produce the highest emissions per passenger.
• While train journeys are almost always greener than flying, they aren’t always an option and often more expensive, so may not be a realistic alternative for many travellers.
• Sustainable travel isn’t solely about the environmental impact of travelling, but also about maximising social and economic benefits for local communities and their cultural heritage.
• Since 2008, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has been updating criteria that aim to “serve as the global baseline standards for sustainability in travel and tourism.”