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Climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse emissions is now a key concern in all aspects of our daily lives. In addition to energy use, one of the biggest areas we can reduce emissions is travel. Carbon reduction company Climate Friendly has developed tips for travellers to help minimise climate impact.
1. Decide if you really need to travel. If it’s a work trip, can you use Skype or organise a video or teleconference instead of flying or driving to your meeting or event? Avoiding a few work trips a year can not only greatly reduce travel emissions, it can also save you time and your company or organisation money.
2. Choose your location for work events and holidays carefully with the environment in mind. Some locations are incredibly energy intensive such those that are remote and depend on generators for electricity and require that food and other products are shipped in often use much more energy. Other venues may make sustainable practice a priority. When booking travel it is always a good idea to ask whether the venue practices sustainability and think about how far goods and services need to travel.
3. Combine trips to reduce the number of flights. If you are planning a few work or holiday trips, can you combine them into one rather than doing a number of return trips? This will save emissions and usually money as well.
4. Take a train or carpool instead of flying. Are you planning a short trip for work or a holiday? If so, can you take a train and do work or enjoy time reading or relaxing instead of flying? Or, if you are travelling with colleagues or friends, can you organise to drive together and use the time together to work, catch up or socialise?
5. Choose a travel company or airline that is taking real steps to reduce their greenhouse emissions and minimise their environmental impact. Some of Climate Friendly’s valued travel clients are World Expeditions, Peregrine, Scenic Tours, Bay Travel, Atlantic Pacific American Express in New Zealand, Atlantic Pacific Travel, Traveledge, Travelogic, and Travelforce.
6. Fly and travel economy. While travelling Business or First Class is luxurious, it uses a great deal more energy and produces significantly more emissions than flying economy. Even one economy trip makes a difference.
7. Choose a hotel or resort that is taking steps to minimise climate and environmental impacts. Climate Friendly recommends booking travel through World Expeditions and Peregrine Tours for holiday accommodation, Emerald Valley in Byron Bay for corporate team get-aways and the Radisson Hotel & Suites Sydney, who have room offset options for stop-ins.
8. If hiring a car, choose a model that has good fuel economy and book a green cab – saves fuel costs and emissions. Where to get information: Most major hire car companies now offer high efficiency and/or hybrid car options including Europcar, Avis, Budget and Thrifty. Ask when you book.
9. Purchase credible carbon credits to offset your travel emissions for flights, car trips, hotel stays and other travel emissions. Do some research first to be sure the offsets you choose really do reduce emissions and are independently audited.
For more information visit www.climatefriendly.com.