[Pil-pc-oceania] More grist for the carbon mill

[RussGrayson]

SOURCE: Sydeny Morning Herald, this morning...
http://blogs.smh.com.au/travel/archives/2008/02/does_green_travel_really_wor
k.html

Does green travel really work?

Regardless of how hard we try, all travellers have to face the facts: we're
eco-vandals.

We're destroying the world for our own self-indulgent pleasures, and no
amount of "carbon offsets" are going to change that.

We fly in planes, we drive cars, we ride in buses, we trek through jungles,
we climb sand dunes, we trample over coral reefs, we litter, we use too much
water ...

The old "take only photographs, leave only footprints" adage went out the
window years ago. We're dedicated consumers.

So the question now is, what can be done? Can you really travel "green"? Or
should we just all stay at home?

To be honest, I've never stopped to consider this too closely, probably
because I won't like the answers I come up with. Sure, I'm concerned about
the environment, but I love travelling, and I'm going to keep doing it. That
might not be politically correct, but I just can't see myself calling off my
next holiday because of my carbon emissions.

And I'm not the only one. The International Ecotourism Society estimates
that by 2020, there will be 1.56 billion people travelling internationally
each year. That's a whole lot of flights, and a whole lot of carbon being
blasted into the atmosphere. Not to mention what all those travellers will
do when they arrive.

So the trick is, how do you minimise your impact?

A lot of airlines now offer carbon offsets for a small fee, but the jury is
out on their effectiveness. According to The Guardian's George Monbiot,
buying offsets is, "like pushing the food around on your plate to create the
impression you have eaten it". I'm sure there is a benefit to carbon
offsets, but I'm not convinced paying someone to allegedly plant a few trees
allows you to jump on that 747 guilt-free.

Of course one of the best ways to neutralise the effects of flying is not to
fly at all. In Australia you don't have a lot of choice if you want to go
overseas - unless you want to spend a few weeks on a boat - but in places
like South East Asia and Europe, it's much better environmentally (and
scenically) to take trains over some routes that you might normally fly.

And then when you arrive, you just continue the destruction. One of the main
ways travellers do this is by using transport on the ground - cars, buses,
tuk-tuks etc. And like flying, the best thing to do is try not to use them
at all. Walk where you can, or hire a push-bike to get around. Or at the
very least, use public transport. Again, you'll see more this way, too.

Even your choice of accomodation can help or harm the environment. How much
water does your hotel or hostel use? Does it have a recycling program? Does
it hire locals? For a list of eco-friendly accommodation around the world,
try here.

Water is another tough one. Last week's blog brought up a good point from a
few readers - drinking water from plastic bottles. It might seem handy (I've
been doing it for years), but you never really think about what happens to
those unbiodegradable bottles once you turf them when they're empty. I guess
taking your own sturdy bottle and water purifier is a more environmentally
sound option.

And when you're travelling, try to limit your water use in things like
showers and washing clothes (never been an issue for me...). You're
essentially using other people's water resources when you travel, so go
easy.

(Special note for golfers: apparently, the average 18-hole course soaks up
about the same amount of water per day as 100 Malaysian farmers would need
to irrigate their crops. Something to think about on your next South East
Asia golf trip.)

Another way to lower your impact on the environment is to travel
independently, rather than on package tours. The IES found that 80 per cent
of money for all-inclusive package tours goes to airlines, hotels and other
international companies. That doesn't leave much for the people you're
actually visiting.

Organise everything yourself, and far more of your money will go straight to
the people you meet, get served by and interact with on your holiday. And of
course, try to buy local products when you're overseas. Not only will it
help that nation's economy, but it also means the product hasn't been
shipped in or flown in from elsewhere.

However, at historic and other popular tourist sites, use a local guide
rather than go it alone. Not only will they help keep you on the beaten path
and lessen your impact on the area, but you'll also learn a few things, and
help keep your guide in employment.

And finally, there's the idea of voluntourism - actively "giving back" while
you're away, by doing things like planting trees, helping out at local
hospitals, building shelters, digging wells, and so on. While a lot of this
sometimes reeks to me of a slightly smug way of assuaging middle class
guilt, I'm sure it must help in some respect.

Okay, there are my tips. But there's one small problem: I hardly ever do any
of it. I should, and I wish I did, but I don't. Doing all the right things
is usually a bit harder, usually a bit more time consuming, and usually a
bit more expensive. But if we don't start changing soon, there's not going
to be much left to go and visit.

So at the very least, I'm going to start trying.