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【Concrete measures and statistics, balanced travel　recommended】

According to this article, the single more significant way to reduce the carbon emissions of travelling is to tackle the transport portion, which is often responsible for at least 70% of the carbon emissions of a holiday.

In Europe, where many trains (including Eurostar) are electric, the emissions from rail travel can be as much as 10 times less than flying.

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In Europe, where many trains are electric, the emissions from rail travel can be as much as 10 times less than flying.

Photograph by Getty Images

What's sustainable travel?
Sustainable travel is about travelling in a way that's sensitive to the climate and nature emergencies while ensuring that the wellbeing of the places we visit gain long-term benefit from us travelling there. It's a balancing act between maximising the positives of travel while reducing or eliminating the negatives.

What's happening and why?
The concentration of carbon dioxide currently in the atmosphere is well over 400 parts per million higher than at any time in at least 800,000 years - and it's still increasing, causing global temperatures to rise. The consensus is that a rise of just 1.5C will cause dangerous warming of the planet. The stability of our world's climate hinges on whether we can keep this small rise in global temperatures in check and time's running out. This is the decade that counts.

How does this impact the natural world?
Commensurate with the climate crisis is the nature emergency: worldwide, 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction due to the intensification of agriculture and forestry, resource extraction, hunting, invasive species, urban sprawl, pollution and climate change. Yet, this is not just about the disappearance of remote rainforests or polar bears at the extremities of the planet - habitat and biodiversity loss are happening on a colossal scale in the UK, to our hedgerows and forests, our garden birds, and the fish in our seas.

What can you do about it?
Being a sustainable traveller is not about making grand, one-off gestures, it's a state of mind, an ongoing attitude to conscious adventure that influences all aspects of how we holiday, including what we pack in our luggage and how we travel out to destinations, as well as the choice of hotels and activities we take part in while we're there.

The nature emergency, which is commensurate with the climate crisis, affects us all.

Photograph by Getty Images

How do I even get started?
To begin with, consider packing less: travelling lighter will reduce the chances of having to dispose of items; it makes it much easier to travel around, especially on foot, by bike or on public transport; and it's more fuel efficient - especially noticeable if you're travelling in an electric car. A useful device for packing economically is to consider the three Rs: Reduce: What can I get away with not taking; are there items that can double up for several uses? Reuse: What can I take that I can reuse over and over again? Recycle: What can I take that can be recycled once I've finished using it? Try to avoid taking single-use plastic, such as bottles, bags and straws, which break down over time into tiny microplastics that enter the food chain when they're consumed by marine wildlife and ultimately cause serious health issues for humans. Instead, pack a refillable water bottle, coffee cup, Tupperware containers for food and toiletries, and a shopping bag - it'll be handy not just as a replacement for buying a plastic bag at a supermarket, but also when you're out buying food and groceries at a local market.

What's the most important change that I can make?
The single more significant way to reduce the carbon emissions of travelling is to tackle the transport portion, which is often responsible for at least 70% of the carbon emissions of a holiday. The most effective way to do this is to reduce the distance travelled and to travel in a way that burns less or, even better, no fossil fuels, using more sustainable modes of transport; or by not travelling in a vehicle at all, choosing instead to travel on foot, by bike or under sail. There's a steep difference in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by aeroplanes compared with most land-based vehicles. There are concerted efforts to decarbonise air travel using alternative fuels and methods of propulsion (such as via electricity and hydrogen), but even the most optimistic predictions support that this change is at least a decade away for most airlines. For the time being, the emissions from just one long-haul flight can be more than those caused by someone driving a standard petrol car for a whole year. Taking the train within the UK emits about six times less than flying and taking the bus emits about nine times less. In Europe, where many trains (including Eurostar) are electric, the emissions from rail travel can be as much as 10 times less than flying.

And what if I do need to fly?
If you do fly, bear in mind that there's quite a large disparity between the carbon emissions of aircraft and the operating procedures of airlines, so do use online tools such as the 'Greener Choices' label on the search results provided by the flight search engine skyscanner.net, which flags up those flights that have less than average emissions.

While flying continues to be such a large polluter, consider adopting a more selective approach to flying: just as with the flexitarian approach to food where you eat a mainly plant-based diet and only occasionally eat lean meat and sustainably sourced fish, a similar attitude to flying could be that you mainly travel overland and only occasionally fly, staying for longer, and making the most of the flight by choosing a positive-impact holiday that benefits nature conservation and/or genuinely benefits the wellbeing of local communities.

What does my carbon impact look like once I get to a destination?
There are other factors that will affect your carbon emissions when you're at the destination, including your choice of hotel and the food you eat. The average carbon footprint of a night in a typical hotel in the UK is about 31.1kg CO2, according to the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative, so choosing a hotel that has lower than average carbon emissions can make a significant difference to your holiday's footprint. Thankfully it's becoming easier to find green accommodation - keep an eye out for the green filters on specialist accommodation booking sites, such as Airbnb's 'off-the-grid', Sawday's 'Sustainable stars' and i-escape's 'eco rating', there are several online agencies that specialise in green accommodation, such as fairbnb.coop and myecostay.eu, and even the big online agencies, such as Booking.com, TripAdvisor and Google, now flag up eco-certified hotels in their search results. Many of these eco-certified accommodations do much more than reducing their carbon emissions, they'll also reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill and reduce the use of chemicals and the amount of water they use.

Feasting on local, seasonal food washed down with the local tipple conveys a sense of place better than any travel brochure. It's also much better for the environment as there are significant emissions of carbon arising from the 'food miles' associated with transporting food great distances. Whether it's freshly baked bread for breakfast, salad from the local market for lunch, or the catch of the day at the nearby restaurant, choosing local isn't just good for the planet, it's also healthier and a great way to put money into the local community.

Where to go
Some of the most colourful cities in Europe are a great choice for a green break, such as Bristol, Angers, Nantes, Zurich, Ljubljana and Copenhagen. Here, pragmatic local authorities are implementing the circular economy to create sustainable transport, housing and economic development policies that are accelerating their transition to net zero, which has the knock-on effect of improving the experience for sustainable travellers. For example, regenerative wetlands and connected green spaces help manage storm water, air quality and improve biodiversity, but also provide wonderful green sanctuaries that are great for appreciating urban nature or for just chilling out in parks and gardens across urban villages.

And how to get around?
Countries that have a modern, high-speed rail infrastructure make it easy to travel with a lower carbon footprint. Switzerland has an extensive public transport network across the country (the Swiss Travel Pass provides free admission to 500 museums as well as unlimited travel on trains, bus, boat and public transport in cities), while France, Spain, Italy and Germany have impressive high-speed rail networks, particularly between major cities.

What about long haul?
Further afield, some countries have made concerted efforts to include tourism in their sustainable development goals. Following decades of tree clearing for agriculture and livestock production, in the 1980s the Costa Rican government implemented policies that have halted and reversed this deforestation. Today, over half of Costa Rica's land is covered by forest, compared to just 26% in 1983, allowing it to make the most of the biodiversity in its rainforests and pioneer the concept of ecotourism, developing small-scale, high-end eco lodges that have contributed to the conservation of its rainforests. Guyana, too, is developing community-based ecotourism to fund the protection of its rainforests. Lodges such as Iwokrama River Lodge, Rewa Eco-Lodge and Surama Eco-Lodge enable visitors to enjoy the country's incredible biodiversity, while contributing to its conservation and to the livelihoods of remote communities.

Where can I look for more information?
Richard Hammond is a sustainable travel expert and founder of Green Traveller and the author of The Green Traveller: Conscious Adventure That Doesn't Cost the Earth (£18.99, Pavilion).
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How to travel better: a beginner's guide to sustainable travel in 2023 and beyond

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Sustainable, green, responsible - planet-friendly ways to explore the world are more popular than ever but how do you start to make better decisions when you travel? The first step is to understand what sustainable travel is and why it's important.

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Richard Mark Hammond (born 19 December 1969) is an English journalist, television presenter, and author.

Originally a pupil of Solihull School, a fee-paying boys' independent school, he moved to Ripon Grammar School, and from 1986 to 1988 attended Harrogate College of Art and Technology. According to a 2011 episode of Top Gear (Series 16, Episode 5), Hammond's first job was shovelling grit into a water filtration plant.

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【Greenwashing Alarm Bells: The Risks and Cautions of Rhetoric】

Hypocritical claims by companies and tourist destinations touting themselves as environmentally friendly or sustainable in their marketing efforts, but without actual action, are rampant.

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How to Spot and Avoid Greenwashing in Tourism

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Learn what greenwashing means, how to identify it, and what you can do as a traveler or tourism company to avoid it.

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Kaitlyn channels her enthusiasm and expertise into managing Sustainable Travel International’s marketing communications. She educates travelers and tourism professionals about best practices, encourages the industry to invest in climate action, and shares compelling stories of sustainability in action. She has been privileged to support Sustainable Travel International’s work in destinations like Barbados, Fiji, St. Kitts, Antigua and Barbuda, Chile, Samoa, Vail, and Mexico.

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Kaitlyn Brajcich - Sustainable Travel International

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STORIES OF THE PEOPLE, PLACES & PARTNERS THAT MAKE TRAVEL AND TOURISM TICK

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【National Geographic Society】

① High evaluation from outside

" High for factual reporting" & " Least biased" from Media Bias/Fact Check.

② Author information is publicly available at

The reporter's real name and area of expertise are listed, and his/her background and accomplishments can be examined.

③Fact-oriented editorial policy

Written based on data and research articles, not speculation

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Explore National Geographic. A world leader in geography, cartography and exploration.

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【Sustainable Travel International 】

This article is published by Sustainable Travel International, a trusted NGO that promotes responsible tourism. Although the article does not include specific data, it outlines globally recognized patterns of greenwashing based on environmental marketing standards. The purpose is educational, not commercial, which enhances its credibility. Therefore, the article is a reliable source for identifying misleading “eco” claims in the travel industry.

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Together, we can protect our planet's most vulnerable destinations by transforming tourism's impact on nature and people. Join the responsible travel movement.

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Reinforcement: Rail vs. Airplane Emission Difference

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Reinforcement: Rail vs. Airplane Emission Difference

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ArXiv Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) “train CO₂ is 30-120 gCO₂/km, railroads achieve carbon payback 10 years after construction”

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Banning short-haul flights and investing in high-speed railways for a sustainable future?

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Long-distance mobility sustainability, high-speed railways (HSR) decarbonization effect, and bans for short-haul flights are debated in Europe. Yet, holistic environmental assessments on these topics are scarce. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted on the Paris-Bordeaux transportation options in France: HSR, plane, coach, personal car, and carpooling. The overall ranking on four environmental indicators, from best to worst, is as follows: coach, HSR, carpooling, private car, and plane. Scenario analyses showed that increasing train occupancy decreases the environmental impact of the mode (-12%), while decreasing speed does not. Moreover, worldwide carbon footprints of electric HSR modes range 30-120 gCO2eq per passenger-kilometer traveled. Finally, a consequential LCA highlighted carbon paybacks of the HSR project. Under a business-as-usual trip substitution scenario, the HSR gets net-zero 60 years after construction. With a short-haul flight ban, it occurs after 10 years. This advocates for generalizing short-haul flight bans and investing in HSR infrastructure.

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Conflict evidence: policy and regulatory developments

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Conflict evidence: policy and regulatory developments

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The EU has introduced a SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) blending mandate, aiming for 2% in 2025, 5% in 2030, and carbon neutrality in 2050.

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Preparation of airplane before departure.

Photograph by Getty Images

This January, Air France became the first airline to introduce biofuel surcharges, with other airlines looking set to follow suit. Furthermore, a recent ruling in the carrier's home country now requires all aircraft refuelling within France to do so using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is far more expensive than traditional aviation fuel, meaning potentially higher airfares for passengers as a result. Meanwhile, in a bid to cut carbon emissions, governments across Europe are beginning to rethink their short-haul flight networks. We look at what all of this might mean for passengers.

What's happening with aviation fuel?
As of 1 January 2022, France requires the fuel mix of all airlines refuelling in the country to be at least 1% SAF, with this figure set to increase to 2% in 2025 and 5% in 2030. The EU is likely to introduce a blending mandate in 2025 that will help the airline industry in its stated aim of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. In the meantime, Sweden has announced plans to become the first country to charge a landing and take-off fee for older, less fuel-efficient aircraft. How this cost will be passed on to passengers, however, remains to be seen.

Will passengers be affected?
Air France's announcement will mean that passengers pay between €1-12 (85p-£10), depending on flight duration and cabin class. Partner airline KLM and subsidiary Transavia will also implement surcharges in efforts to offset the more expensive SAF. All of this is driven by costs: SAF is between four and eight times more expensive than traditional fuel (which accounts for up to 30% of an airline's costs) but allows airlines to cut carbon emissions by 75% compared with conventional kerosene jet fuel. Air France has said it expects the costs of SAF - largely made from used cooking oil as well as agricultural waste - to drop as more European countries start producing it.

And how will this affect flight routes?
As part of efforts to reduce airline carbon emissions, a growing number of European nations are proposing to follow France's example: last April, the country banned short-haul domestic flights on routes where comparable train journeys of up to two-and-a-half hours exist. Services affected included flights between Paris and Nantes, and Lyon and Bordeaux. Similar bans are being considered in Spain, Germany and Scandinavian countries. During the pandemic, Austrian Airlines secured a government bailout on condition it ditched domestic flights where a train journey of under three hours was available.

Will this be enough to cut emissions?
For many environmentalists, these bans don't go far enough. According to last October's Greenpeace report Get On Track, the French ban will result in less than a 1% reduction in carbon emissions for the country's air transport sector. John Hyland, the EU spokesperson for the group said: "The EU and European governments, France included, should ban all short flights when passengers can use less polluting transport like rail or bus." A third of the busiest short-haul flights in Europe have train alternatives of under six hours, according to research by think tank OBC Transeuropa, which has called on European governments to ban short-haul flights in favour of accessible rail travel for all.

And what does this mean for long-haul flights?
Banning short-haul flights won't resolve aviation's bigger problem: long haul. According to European air traffic management body Eurocontrol, long-haul flights account for 6% of all the continent's flights but produced a disproportionate 52% of emissions - making the implementation of biofuel an increasingly burning issue.

Biofuel facts

What's it made of? SAF is largely composed of used cooking oil and forestry and agricultural waste.

Cutting carbon: SAF emits 75% less carbon than traditional aviation fuel.

Concerns: The EU Court of Auditors has voiced concerns over imported 'virgin' oils (including palm oil) being passed off as 'used', fearing deforestation. It's called for tougher regulation and monitoring.
Published in the April 2022 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)
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Is this the end of short-haul flights? How sustainability is shaping the future of air travel

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From fuel levies to a ban on short-haul flights, sustainability shake-ups in the airline industry are set to change where you can travel by plane - and how much it will cost.

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I think the main article I chose at the beginning is the truth.

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I think the main article I chose at the beginning is the truth.

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I love flying — the view from above, the feeling of freedom.

But this project made me realize that loving something doesn’t mean ignoring its impact.

We don’t have to stop traveling — we just have to do it more thoughtfully.

Sustainable travel starts with small, mindful choices.