If you’re on this page, you’re probably sceptical about how sustainable travel can actually be, and rightly so. While travelling is far from the most sustainable thing we can do, the travel industry is not about to grind to a halt. I, for one, am definitely not giving it up any time soon. I will address the elephant in the room that is flying in another post, but for the time being, let’s look at the huge advantages travel can bring. There are so many ways to reduce our impact and contribute positively to the places we go, and this post is just the beginning.
While the impacts of climate change, plastic pollution, and other sustainability crises reach every corner of the world, the impacts are often felt more deeply further from home, especially for those with European and North American roots. Seeing those impacts first hand while travelling brings about a renewed sense of urgency to act. Too often it is the case that these impacts are out of sight, out of mind, and this has dangerous consequences in delaying vital action. The relative ease with which we can travel to a place that is experiencing climate catastrophe on a scale we have never ourselves seen demonstrates just how connected we all are. The Earthrise photo taken in the 1960s is said to have kickstarted the environmental movement we know today, showcasing the vulnerability of our tiny Earth swimming in the vast blackness of space. Travel can have the same effect, bringing stories from the news and ‘distant’ countries to life and creating a desire to act.
Earthrise by William Anders
Nowhere is the impact felt more greatly than in areas of nature. When we travel, we often experience more of the outdoors than we do at home. Gaining an appreciation for all the wonders that nature has to offer is so important for solving the sustainability challenges of our time. I encourage you to explore for yourself and appreciate the beauty of our natural world!
Travelling also gives us the chance to experience new cultures and meet new people, and this is such an important benefit. Understanding others from around the world is the key to a more peaceful society with more tolerance, acceptance, and a greater sense of community. Our planet is facing challenges like never before, and in a time of instability and injustices in all corners of the world, truly understanding each other is priceless. We can share knowledge and ideas, build off each other, talk about what works and what doesn’t. This doesn’t happen by isolating ourselves. Perhaps if more people travelled, we would not be in the state that we are in. So, for a moment, put aside your concerns about the emissions from flying, and go make friends with someone somewhere new.
The beauty of travel is that we create memories and connections with people and places all over the world, and we gain a sense of home in many places we visit. We all have a desire to protect the places we love, and the far-flung destinations we go to are no exception. Neither is the Earth, so let's work together to make it a better place.
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