Are there aspects of your daily life that you know contribute to your carbon footprint but you are unwilling to compromise to change them? In other words, what about your life is “off the table” when it comes to carbon emissions? It's OK to admit it- we all have these cherished behaviors!
Off the Table? >
Vacations!
I know that flying on airplanes makes such a huge impact on my carbon footprint, but I love flying on planes and going on vacations. Am I the only one who has this problem? There's not really a way to stop this problem other than just not going on vacations far away.
I also face this problem and was wondering if anyone had any other ideas to make vacations more sustainable and efficient for the environment.
Very interesting, Maggie. I was wondering the same thing.
I don't know how to reduce my carbon footprint for vacations as well (need to research it). Maybe you could try to reduce your carbon footprint in other ways to balance it out?
Here's a resource I found- http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can … stainably/
It has some good advice such as:
Fly during the daytime, because studies have shown that flights taken at night have a greater impact on the climate.
Fly economy, because more people per plane means fewer emissions per person.
Pack light, because lighter planes mean less fuel is burned.
Purchase carbon offsets to account for the emissions from your flight.
for my family we go to 2-3 places when we go on a vacation and we fly to the first but then take a train or boat or drive to the next places and that helps with less flights.
I think a good way to go on vacations but not fly is to do long road trips to places.
Izzy's idea is a good one. Also, many people like to "combine trips". Like fitting in visiting family AND a vacation in one flight. Everything helps.
Izzy,
Great point- GO ON TRAINS. They are energy efficient- the emissions per passenger are nearly half that of cars. Other environmental impacts are up to a tenth smaller on rail than on car. In addition, studies have shown that they improve the quality of life in nearby towns.
-Diego
For me I have to go on these airplane trips because of my baseball team like last year we went to Las Vegas and Colorado and this year we are going to California and Oregon and Maybe Canada.
I think that people should use trains for long distance travel. they are much more efficient and comfortable than cars or planes. However, there is very little competition in the train industry, and until there is, trains wont reach their full potential for travel.