Earth Day
Earth Day was started in 1970, and for many years its "love the planet" message was seen as the work of eco-hippies, tree huggers and the lunatic fringe of the 1970s peace movement.
But no longer. Celebrated annually on April 22, Earth Day is now a mainstream and global celebration of Planet Earth. John Howard and George W. Bush may be late to the party, but most other political leaders have got behind the idea that the global climate is changing, and that us humans are the crux of the problem. You may not have read the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, but trust us, it makes for somber reading.
And that's the problem with Earth Day in particular, and global warming in general. It’s so utterly depressing. Melting glaciers. Rising sea levels. Habitat erosion. Swarms of locust. OK we made that last bit up. But it’s no exaggeration to say that the #1 problem with Earth Day is the demoralizing feeling of lending your support to a lost cause.
Fortunately the earth is not a lost cause yet! The scale of the problem is overwhelming, but it is not insurmountable. There is plenty each of us can do to make a difference. So in honor of Earth Day, Viator has created a guide for Sustainable Living & Travel. There’s no sugarcoating the fact that air travel is a major contributor of carbon dioxide pollution, and that any serious effort to combat greenhouse emissions must include a sustainable strategy for travelers. So here are 5 things you can do to as a traveler to make a positive impact.
#1 - Offset Your Air Travel Emissions
A return flight from Sydney to London covers more than 15,000 miles (25,000km) and emit more than 5 tons of greenhouse gases. So choose a train, bus or boat (instead of a plane) whenever you can.
If that's not feasible, try offsetting your carbon emissions. Viator has partnered with Carbonfund.org to offset our own staff travel, and we've created a program to help you offset your emissions.
#2 - Explore the World on a Bike
Take a cycling holiday. Try a slow cycle along the coast of France, through the forests of Tasmania or along the coast of California. Also be sure to discover a city from its bike paths and lanes. Most cities, particularly European cities like Amsterdam and Barcelona, have a network of off-road bike paths and bike lanes.
#3 - Use Public Transport
Buses, trains and trams all use far fewer resources than cars. So by using a city's public transport you are both reducing your personal contribution to greenhouse gases (and global warming), you're also using a system built to take people to a city's hotspots and main attractions.
At Viator we're big fans of using hop-on hop-off bus tours and public transit passes whenever and wherever possible.
#4 - Go Slow, Go Local
Holidays are a break from the normal routine, yet you can also break your routine at home or in your local area, it just requires a new perspective. Ask your friends for their favorite local attractions, hidden pleasures, fabulous festivals and cosmic adventures. Map a slow journey along roads, rivers and coasts that you've never traveled and see sights you've never seen. If you throw in the cash you save not flying to the other side of the planet, you can even indulge yourself, guilt free. It's for the environment after all.
#5 - Eco & Aid Travel
Often we pass through a country without ever sitting down with a local, understanding their life and lending a hand. Especially in the developing world, spending time to assist the local people survive, rebuild or protect their natural wilderness is a precious gift and can be an unforgettable experience. Here are some sites to get you started:
Go Carbon Neutral
Viator is committed to minimizing and offsetting our carbon emissions. We want to help you to do the same.
Earth Day Podcast
Download the Viator Earth Day podcast, featuring Viator's very own Rod Cuthbert.
- Download an MP3 version
- Download an iTunes-friendly version
- Listen to a streaming version
10 More Things You Can Do
What more can you do to help Planet Earth? Besides the travel tips already listed, here are 10 things you can do (complete details are on the Viator blog):
- Reduce & offset your car emissions
- Make your home or flat energy efficient
- Buy renewable electricity
- Invest ethically
- Eat less meat
- Promote sustainable living
- Car pool
- Immerse yourself in nature
- Generate less garbage
- Buy local & seasonal food