Website design By BotEap.comWe all hear the term “global warming” all the time. Over the last few months I have started reading travel stories about how Mount Kilimanjaro’s permanent ice cap is melting, how ski resorts in the Alps are going to close permanently due to lack of snow, how they are melting glaciers in the Arctic, how more and more Frequent and severe weather shocks are disrupting tourism, and the stories continue. Some of these stories even urge us to go now before some of these scenic spots are transformed or gone forever. Climate change has now become a topic of concern for global travelers.

Website design By BotEap.comTravel, of course, HAS Environmental Consequences. Travel with long delays involves the creation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, passenger planes are some of the intense polluters that exist today. In addition, wherever we go, we consume food and other services, and we generate waste. So what needs to be done?

Website design By BotEap.comWhen it comes to aircraft emissions, there are actually some concrete things we can do. There are ways to offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel by purchasing trees to be planted to offset these emissions. At Trees for the Future, your US$40.00 will actually pay for the planting of 400 trees that will help offset greenhouse gases. You’ll also get a global cooling certificate and bumper sticker. On their website you’ll also see a list of partners, including hostels and bed and breakfasts that run on renewable energy sources.

Website design By BotEap.comThe Rainforest Alliance actually offers a variety of information to green travelers. They also offer Sustainable Tourism Certification to Tourist Establishments that is based on a method to reduce the consumption of water, energy and other resources, and improve the management, handling and dispatch of Waste. They even make a toolkit for best practices in sustainable tourism available to small and medium-sized businesses in the tourism industry.

Website design By BotEap.comOn its website, the Rainforest Alliance also advocates a number of simple eco-friendly behaviors that we can all try to follow:

Website design By BotEap.como Support local economies by finding locally owned lodging and dining establishments, locally grown food, and locally made goods and crafts.

Website design By BotEap.comor sponsor ecological hotels whose administrators have programs that save water and energy.

Website design By BotEap.como Stay on the hiking trails. Clean up your own mess and dispose of properly. Stay away from wildlife.

Website design By BotEap.como Travel by public transportation as much as possible.

Website design By BotEap.como AVOID VEHICLES WITH TWO-STROKE ENGINES, SUCH AS JET-SKIS, ESCOTINES AND CERTAIN BOATS, WHICH ARE HIGHLY POLLUTING.

Website design By BotEap.como Be culturally sensitive to local customs, greetings, dress codes, and food attire.

Website design By BotEap.como Treat others with the same respect that you would ask for in your own community.

Website design By BotEap.comOther green certification programs for tour operators and tips for green-savvy consumers include the following websites:

Website design By BotEap.com– Terra Choice

Website design By BotEap.com– Green Balloon 21

Website design By BotEap.com– Environmental Choice

Website design By BotEap.com– Green Seal

Website design By BotEap.com– The Global Ecolabelling Network

Website design By BotEap.com– The Climate Neutrality Network

Website design By BotEap.comAnother interesting website is Future Forests: it advocates a “carbon neutral” lifestyle, to neutralize the impact on the environment. Future Fores has been providing people with a variety of environmental gifts since 1997. You can dedicate a tree, for example, for $10.00. You can even plan carbon neutral weddings with future forests.

Website design By BotEap.comOne cool thing about their website is that they offer a really cool carbon emissions calculator that allows you to calculate your anticipated emissions from flying or driving. I THOUGHT Let’s check this out, so I entered some Assomed data for a flight from New York City to London, England.

Website design By BotEap.comI instantly found out that this flight would produce 1.22 tons of CO2. The Calculator Also Tells Me If I Dedicate 2 Trees I Can Make This Flight Carbon Neutral. Alternatively, YOU COULD SUPPLY 2 energy saving light bulbs for a small community in the developing world. Both options WOULD BE £30. I also checked out their carbon emission driving calculator. If I traveled 400 km (250 miles) every week in a car with a 1.4 to 2 liter engine, I WOULD GENERATE 4 TONS OF CO2 PER YEAR, which would take 5 trees to offset.

Website design By BotEap.comIn addition to planting trees, you can also purchase “carbon offsets.” A “carbon offset” is actually an investment in a project or action with the goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. Offset projects come in many varieties and can include tree planting or reforestation, building retrofits (ie installing more efficient heating/cooling systems), or wind power projects.

Website design By BotEap.comAccording to the Better World Club website, here’s how it works: You can book a flight through Better World Travel – Members and get a free carbon offset for your US domestic flight ($11 value). If you book a flight through another travel agent or airline, send them a tax-deductible donation to offset the CO2 emissions from your flight. ($11 for domestic flights or $22 for international flights).

Website design By BotEap.comSo the good news is that there are indeed ways to offset the environmental impact we all have, even while traveling.