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Mardi Lumsden  It is a well known fact that Australians love to travel. But with the rising cost of fuel and increasing awareness of the impact of travel on the environment people are searching for more eco-friendly ways to see the world.
Unpack the issues...
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in February 2008 there were 365,700 short-term resident departures from Australian Airports. But with the rising cost of fuel and increasing awareness of the impact of travel on the environment people are searching for more eco-friendly ways to see the world. The terms “eco travel” and “eco tourism” have been bandied around for more than a decade, but what do they actually mean? The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines eco tourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the wellbeing of local people”. However, some argue that to truly be ecologically friendly, we’d stay at home. In his essay, The Future of Travel, Volker Poelzl asks whether we travel or consume. “Much of travel today is about consumption — the consumption of foreign places, cultures and people,” says Volker. “The colourful locals are often objects of curiosity and visual consumption, part of an exotic Arcadia to be admired and photographed. The interactions between the visitor and the local people often do not go beyond the exchanges of seller-buyer and provider-consumer. “The increased dependency on a cash economy is in part promoted by foreign visitors; however, according to the World Bank, less than 45% of the money tourists spend goes to local economies. “Travellers should also look at favourite tourist activities such as picture-taking and souvenir-buying in the context of their impact on their host country and its people. “We all leave footprints in the places we travel, but we can learn to minimise them and reduce their impact,” Volker says. “We can also set examples for others by following our own ethics of travel.” Jessica Jensen, co-founder of American company Low Impact Living, says a round trip flying from the US to Paris uses the same amount of fuel the average car emits in a year. “The green moral of the story is this: if you can, take a train or a bus. If you can't, drive,” she says. “Take direct flights whenever possible. Planes burn more fuel in take-off and landing than they do by flying at a constant altitude.” TIES also advocates flying responsibly. “Your flight can be the most polluting aspect of your travel. It's estimated that air traffic accounts for 10% of greenhouse gases worldwide. “You can help offset carbon emissions from planes (or cars) by supporting energy efficiency and renewable projects. “And when possible use more environmentally friendly transport such as trains, buses and passenger boats.” Another way to be an eco tourist is by participating in what is called travel philanthropy. In other words, going to a community and assisting in some way. It could be by helping install a water pump, constructing a building, teaching, or any number of things. There are many organisations that provide opportunities for travel philanthropy, including Uniting International Mission. Bayside Uniting Church youth worker, Tim Griggs, co-ordinated a trip for 25 people aged 15 to mid 60s to build buildings for the Watoto Child Care Ministries in Uganda. He says the experience changed the way he sees the world. “It challenged our values, our assumptions and our faith. We realised how hard some people in Uganda are working to rescue and restore their country’s lost children and how even a little from us can make a huge difference — there is so much that we can do,” he says. You don’t have to spend money on a specially designed eco tourism package. Here are a few tips to decrease your impact on the environment while travelling. Eat local produce. Take your rubbish with you when you leave. Buy gifts and food from locals. Visit places that are committed to preserving the natural environment, assisting the local community, employing local staff under fair working conditions. Take less flights and stay in destinations longer. Engage in travellers philanthropy. Stay at home or explore your own country by public transport or driving in a full car.
Unpack the issues... Further reading The content of the following websites does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of The Transit Lounge.
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