One of the strongest human aspirations in life is travel. Whether it's traveling to the other side of the world or simply going on vacation to another city, we all have this need, to a greater or lesser extent.
And we are ready to work hard all year round to be able to enjoy these moments of happiness, far from our daily lives.
However, in these times, we are entitled to wonder if this need to travel will not accelerate the destruction of our beautiful planet.
Can you be a globetrotter and an eco-friendly person? This is the question we will attempt to answer in this short article.
Traveling pollutes
It is important to be aware that, globally, travel is one of the biggest causes of pollution in the world.
- Transport and its oil consumption,
- activities that destroy landscapes visually or audibly,
- the crowd that unwittingly damages nature with its passage,
- the construction of infrastructure to accommodate travelers,
- and single-use products that are sold to meet the needs of travelers
Traveling helps develop a stronger ecological awareness
Travel is one of the things that opens our minds the most.
When we take the time to travel and discover the world, we realize its beauty. We become aware of what is truly important in life, and above all, we realize all the privileges we have at home compared to others.
In a way, travel has probably transformed many globetrotters into eco-conscious people. This is especially true for long-term travelers.
But these eco-friendly travelers often find themselves confronted with their own contradictions. They want to make an effort to address their environmental impact, but they have and want to continue traveling the world.
Some solutions for traveling while respecting the environment
Here are some ways to reduce your ecological impact when traveling.
Limit the use of the plane as much as possible or even stop using it altogether
Even if taking or not taking a flight does not change the fact that it will take off and therefore pollute, it is important to understand that boycotting is the only way to change things in the future. If there is less demand, there will be far fewer flights, which will have a very positive impact.
You can choose transportation options such as the bus, train, or carpooling. This often requires traveling less far, or for a longer period of time, which allows for a slower journey.
Refuse single-use products
Whether in hotels, hostels, restaurants, or even on the street, we are often offered single-use products when traveling.
Packaged soaps, shower gels, shampoos, disposable toothbrushes, plastic bags, paper towels, cotton pads, plastic straws and especially plastic bottles...
The solution is to choose not to use these products and to prefer reusable products: filter bottles, solid shampoo, tote bags, reusable makeup remover pads, reusable straws, etc.
Prioritize activities with the least possible impact on the environment
If we want to stick to our values, we avoid activities that exploit animals and private helicopter rides over snow-capped mountains. Instead, we can get lost in the narrow streets or take long, beautiful hikes in nature.
Conclusion
More and more travelers are completely changing their lifestyles to combine travel and ecology. Some are willing to spend several months traveling by bike or crossing the world by train, or even sometimes on foot. But even if you don't have the opportunity to go that far, you can still make the most of the options we've listed.
