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Summer is just around the corner. Are you thinking about your vacation destination—beach or mountains, train or plane? But what about your trip's carbon footprint? How can you make the most eco-friendly choices while still enjoying your time off? We’ll explore that together in this article. 👇
As a reminder, tourism is responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions, according to a study conducted by the University of Sydney in Australia and led by Manfred Lenzen (1). These emissions are caused by transportation, of course, but also by dining, hospitality, waste, and various traveler purchases. Every choice we make has an impact on our carbon footprint, in every area of life. That’s why, with a little knowledge, it’s possible to take action to limit our impact. But before we share these valuable insights, it’s essential to understand which areas are responsible for our summer emissions.
What are the main sources of vacation emissions?
Transportation
It’s common to want to explore other regions of France or even the world during the summer, but this change of scenery is not without consequences for the planet.
In fact, transportation generates more than three-quarters of tourism-related emissions (2). Unsurprisingly, air travel is the most carbon-intensive mode of transport. The distances covered by air are much greater than by car or train, which significantly increases the carbon impact of flying.
If you need to travel long distances, the train remains the best option. With an emission factor more than 4 times lower than that of a plane (compared to a short-haul flight) and more than 3 times lower than a car (based on average values), it is one of the most carbon-efficient ways to travel.
On-site purchases
Before you leave, you can choose a more environmentally friendly mode of transport, but the choices you make during your trip are just as crucial.
ADEME (the French Agency for Ecological Transition) notes that the purchase of goods and dining out account for 13% of tourism-related carbon emissions.
This shows that tourist behavior on-site has a real impact on their total carbon footprint.
For example, an average restaurant meal is more carbon-intensive than a home-cooked meal because we tend to consume more than usual (in terms of quantity) and often increase our intake of meat products.
Accommodation
Accommodation is one of those unexpected sources of emissions, yet it accounts for 7% of tourism-related emissions.
Energy consumption, the purchase of intermediate goods, and the initial construction of buildings explain why accommodation ranks third among the highest-emitting categories.
Knowing this, you might wonder if it’s still possible to go on vacation while keeping greenhouse gas emissions low. Of course! There are many best practices you can implement before or during your trip, and we’ll tell you all about them in the rest of this article.
But first, do you really know the carbon footprint of your vacations? No?! Take our quiz to get a good overview of the carbon impact of your holidays.
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So, what is your carbon impact? Whatever your result, (almost) everyone can further reduce their carbon footprint, which is why we’re sharing some best practices to implement before or during your trip!
What are the best practices to adopt?
Travel local
To limit the total distance traveled, choose destinations close to home. Why not set off to discover, or rediscover, a region of France? France is full of diverse and varied landscapes where you can recharge, get active, or try new activities.
To name just a few French regions, the Ardèche or the Basque Country are magnificent destinations packed with all kinds of activities.
Ardèche: https://www.ardeche-guide.com
Basque Country: https://www.en-pays-basque.fr
Long live the train
If you still want to vacation abroad, particularly in Europe, choose the train, which produces far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than planes or cars.
Plus, if you travel during the day, you can enjoy the scenery throughout your journey, and if you travel at night, what could be more refreshing than waking up in a different country than the one where you fell asleep?
Optimize your car trips
Cars are a major source of carbon emissions, so it is best to avoid using them when going on vacation. However, if you must use one, a few best practices will help you reduce your carbon footprint:
- First, look into carpooling to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per passenger. Platforms like BlaBlaCar make it simple and efficient to find fellow travelers.
- Pack light, as a heavier load increases your fuel consumption.
- Keep your tires properly inflated to improve your vehicle's efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.
- Opt for an electric car.
Reduce your meat consumption
Did you know that, on average, a beef-based meal produces 14 times more greenhouse gases than a vegetarian dish? This difference is due to the significant amount of greenhouse gases (especially methane) emitted by cows throughout their lives.
Drastically reducing your meat consumption, especially beef, can significantly lower your greenhouse gas footprint.
To keep your meals balanced, you can turn to plant-based proteins like chickpeas, lentils, and kidney beans, which are less harmful to the environment.
Eat out less often
As mentioned earlier, a restaurant meal has a higher average carbon footprint than a home-cooked one. To reduce your impact, try eating out less and spend some time in the kitchen whipping up delicious homemade meals instead.
Choose certified eco-friendly accommodation
Accommodation accounts for 7% of tourism-related carbon emissions. To lower this impact, look for eco-certified lodging that considers both construction and daily operations in its rating. It’s a great way to reduce the carbon footprint of your vacation.
Some of the eco-labels recommended by ADEME include:
- EU Ecolabel
- Eco Gîte
- Green Globe
- Or Gîte Panda
You can also check out booking platforms that specialize in eco-friendly accommodation, such as Vaovert (https://www.vaovert.fr).
Cut back on souvenir trinkets
We often want to bring back souvenirs from our travels, but remember that every item purchased generates greenhouse gas emissions—from production and transport to its eventual disposal as waste. It is much more sensible to limit your purchases of trinkets and other vacation souvenirs.
Note: Seashells and other natural items should not be taken home either. This practice is subject to fines because it damages coastal ecosystems (link to public service), which is also harmful to the planet.
You now have everything you need to reduce your travel carbon footprint and ensure your summer vacation is gentle on the planet!
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Sources :
(2) : https://presse.ademe.fr/2021/06/le-tourisme-durable-en-france-un-levier-de-relance-ecologique.html