Updated: Feb 6
Whether traveling for vacation or work, the choices we make along the way can help reduce our carbon footprint throughout our trip. Leslie Kane, founder of Inclusive Escapes Travel, spoke about these choices, shared eye-opening statistics, and provided actionable tips in her presentation on Sustainable Travel at our January meeting.
The topic of “Sustainable Travel” piqued a lot of interest along with a bit of skepticism in the weeks - and even minutes - leading up to Leslie’s presentation: Several people commented that the whole idea of “sustainable travel” seemed to be a contradiction in terms, though they were curious about what they might learn. At the end of Leslie’s presentation, Q&A, and lots of sharing from the GG community, that skepticism had dissipated as attendees walked away with steps to take and resources to tap into to lessen their impact on the environment next time they travel.
Leslie began her presentation by sharing several statistics about the size and growth of the travel industry and how the magnitude of global travel puts many of those places at risk:
“The Scale: In 2025, international tourist arrivals exceeded 1.4 billion AND a tenth of the world’s economy is generated from the travel industry.
The Growth: Demand is currently growing at a rate of 3 - 5% annually.
The Paradox: We travel to see the world’s beauty, yet the sheer volume of global travel puts that very beauty at risk.”
While travel is not likely to slow down, being much more intentional about our choices can make it more eco-friendly. So what makes for sustainable travel? As Leslie explained, there are three pillars that define it as pictured below - and actions you can take to reduce your footprint:
Environmental
The environmental pillar is about protecting the spaces we visit and reducing our impact on the environment, beginning with how we get to our destination. Transportation accounts for approximately 70% of a vacation’s carbon emissions. Not surprisingly, traveling by plane has the most significant impact. This pillar also encompasses reducing waste along the way like avoiding disposable water bottles.
What You Can Do:
Opt to travel domestically for vacation.
Choose lower-carbon modes of transportation like trains or buses.
When flying is your only option, reduce your footprint by flying direct, choosing economy class, and staying longer.
Focus on the 3 R’s - reduce, reuse and recycle. For example, borrow items from friends or family if it is something you will likely not use again; use a reusable water bottle throughout the trip; pack light; know local recycling options - some areas may not have recycling programs.
Social
The social pillar focuses on respecting the local culture and community. Tourism has both negative and positive impacts on the local communities. For example, while it provides income for people who call it home, tourism can also drive up rents and lead to housing shortages.
This pillar also stresses being intentional about where you visit to reduce overtourism in popular destinations. Overtourism negatively impacts the local environment, year-round resident’s quality of life and the visitor experience.
What You Can Do:
Respect local customs by reading up about an area before visiting.
Choose less traveled destinations - check out travel books for ideas, including Here Not There: 100 Unexpected Travel Destinations by Andrew Nelson.
Travel in the off season.
Check Fodor’s No-List which is updated each year when planning where to travel. An update from Leslie: “The Galapagos Islands are not on this year's ‘No-Go’ List from Fodor. The environment is certainly strained from a rise in visitors, but it has not hit the list quite yet."
Economic
The economic pillar centers on supporting local businesses, not big companies. Leslie shared that it is estimated that as much as 80% of dollars spent in an area “leak out” to big companies located elsewhere (e.g., online booking platforms or foreign-owned hotels), a concept known as “economic leakage.”
What You Can Do:
Book accommodations direct with locally-owned hotels, bed and breakfasts, and other lodging options.
Hire local guides.
Eat “The Street” - eat at local establishments rather than global chains.
Check out local shops to find locally crafted, unique goods rather than mass-produced souvenirs.
Learn More
To learn more about traveling more sustainably…
View Leslie’s entire presentation here to dig deeper into the three pillars, read about additional actions you can take, and access the resource links she shared.
Print off “The Conscious Traveler’s Checklist”, a one-page cheat sheet reminder of some of the tips she shared. Post it on your refrigerator and share with others!
Learn more about Leslie and her work, get in touch, or stay in touch through her newsletter, on her Link Tree.
