By: Yen Lee on 10 02, 2007
There seems to be no clear, commonly-used label that describes how we can travel in a fashion that minimizes the environmental impact of our travels? Do you know what the difference is between “ecotourism” and “sustainable travel?” What about “zero-carbon” versus “carbon-neutral?”…I certainly wasn’t sure.
I figured the first step toward greening my own travel would be to understand the language and claims of all the glossy brochures and travel websites that I review every time when I’m planning a trip (or researching posts for this blog). With that in mind, we’ve created a little glossary of all these terms, to help us keep them straight.
Ecotourism refers to both the travel practices and the type of destination. It is travel to a natural setting or area of ecological importance that also works to preserve and sustain that ecosystem – both human and natural. The Rainforest Alliance has come up with a more detailed definition. Conservation International also has a whole website devoted to the promotion of responsible ecotourism. One thing to keep in mind about ecotourism is especially susceptible to “greenwashing” issues (see below for definition). If an ecotourist resort or tour operator is talking a good game in terms of being environmentally responsible, but is not properly conserving the land or providing for local communities, that businesses actions are especially harmful, because they are usually operating in a sensitive area. As a traveler, you should educate yourself and do your due diligence when researching companies that claim to be offering “ecotourism” services. Also known as: Ecotravel, ecotours, or anything “eco.”
Sustainable Travel is not limited to natural areas or ecosystems, but travel to ANY destination – urban or rural, coastal or mountainous, developed or undeveloped – that seeks to limit environmental impacts. The concept that defines sustainable travel is minimizing negative impacts when traveling. The UN and others define this as limiting negative impacts on areas both environmentally and socially, while making sure that travel contributes significantly to the local economy (and is not just spirited away by international tourism conglomerates). Also known as: Sustainable tourism, green travel.
Responsible Travel is very similar to the idea of sustainable travel with a bit more emphasis on social impacts and ethical concerns. This framework also emphasizes contributing to the local culture where you’re traveling by spending your dollars with local businesses (hotels, restaurants, etc.) or by possibly volunteering when visiting a developing world destination. A good resource on the web for more about responsible travel is Planeta.com. You can also check out the World Tourism Organizations Code of Ethics for Tourism, which has formalized standards for ethical travel in more detailed (if more convoluted) terms. One of the travel guidebook companies, Lonely Planet, has taken up responsible tourism as a cause and devotes a section of their website to instructing their readers on what they can do. Also known as: Ethical travel.
Carbon-Neutral Travel is an in-vogue term nowadays that refers mainly to the carbon offsetting schemes that have sprung up in recent years. By now you have probably heard of carbon-neutral businesses, movies, events, and households. The idea behind the term “carbon neutral” anything is that you offset the carbon emissions you produce by paying a company to invest in projects that save carbon emissions in another part of the world – for example, through planting trees or funding renewable energy projects in the developing world. For more information on whether you should offset your travel and how, see our section on carbon offsets. However, buying offsets to be carbon-neutral does not, unfortunately, mean that the business or activity you are buying the offset for is being as efficient as possible.
Zero-Carbon Travel is an oxymoron. Unfortunately, there is no way to travel without producing carbon dioxide. The mere act of getting in your car to drive to the airport starts moving the needle on the carbon produced on your trip. Although some people equate “zero-carbon” with “carbon-neutral,” there is a difference. Zero-carbon refers to the aspiration of producing no carbon in the first place. Solar power, for example, is a zero-carbon form of electricity.
Greenwashing is when the environmental claims made by companies in advertising or marketing to consumers do not hold up to close scrutiny. Because of the increased concern for the environment in recent years, “greenwash” has become much more prevalent, with companies exaggerating the environmental benefits of their products and services in order to gain a competitive advantage. Greenwashing is prevalent in the travel industry, with hotels, tour agencies, car rental companies, and many other tourism-related businesses making claims about their environmental policies that are distorted or exaggerated. Part of the reason this is possible is that there are very few organizations monitoring and certifying environmental claims in the travel industry. Greenwashing makes it particularly important for travelers to do their homework and ask lots of questions before booking travel plans such as green hotels or ecotourism resorts. For examples of corporate greenwashing, see the website for Center for Media and Democracy’s Sourcewatch.
Your Carbon Footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere because of your activities. In the case of travel, most of your carbon footprint is a result of transportation.
The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award Winners for 2009 were announced on Nov 11 at the World Travel Market.
