Climate Change and Gap Year Traveller
“Travel is in our blood.” That is a great thing. According to the World Economic Forum, tourism is essential to reducing poverty in the poorest countries.
We have no doubt that youth travel, and in particular responsible travel, is a valuable personal development experience that makes a contribution to international understanding and respect. However, we must now recognise that there is an environmental cost associated with this travel.
We all know that young people travel to discover new cultures and to truly experience the local communities they visit. Youth travel habits differ from mainstream travel; likewise, youth travel’s measurable impact on the environment – its carbon footprint – is indeed also unique.
Youth Travellers generally stay in local accommodation (hostels, guest houses, host families) and use public transportation during their trips. This type of travel emits less carbon than business travel, which usually involves accommodation in large hotel chains, and the use of taxis and rental cars upon arrival.
The practice of offsetting carbon emissions is now a generally accepted solution to help travellers take responsibility for their carbon footprint.
Voluntary carbon offsetting, whilst not regarded as a standalone solution to mitigating climate change, is largely accepted as playing an important role in educating the public about the cost of carbon emissions and offsetting the portion of one’s carbon footprint.
‘Offsetting’ with Climate Care
|
Climate Care is a service that helps you to repair the damage your activities do to the climate. It does this by ‘offsetting’ the greenhouse gas emissions, such as CO2, from your activities by reducing an equivalent amount of CO2 on your behalf. These reductions are made through a range of projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency and rainforest restoration which not only fight climate change but bring benefits to communities round the world. You can offset emissions from flying, driving and household energy use. To find out more visit www.climatecare.org. |
How does Halsbury Travel reduce its carbon footprint?
Travel to and from work
Located on the outskirts of Nottingham, our office is well served by regular bus and train services. Halsbury travel also offers a shared car scheme from the city centre to our offices each day.
Office recycling
Recycling is one of our regular office activities. There are glass and paper recycling stations throughout the office and members of staff are encouraged to use scrap paper instead of note books.
Online vs. printed brochures
While many companies use great resources printing large glossy brochures, we have moved all our old printed marketing material online, saving resources and paper.
Links
www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
www.ec3global.com/products-programs/green-globe/
www.sustainableaviation.co.uk/
www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk/
Back to top