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Q&A: What Would Greta Do?
Answering your sustainable travel questions to help you embrace
your inner Greta Thunberg
Chloe Raikes
Q&A: What Would Greta Do?: Text
With so much greenwashing, how can you identify genuine eco hotels, projects and tours?
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Look out for sustainable tourism certificates such as the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Rainforest Alliance and The Long Run. These companies are committed to minimising negative impacts on the environment and improving the social and cultural development of surrounding communities. Greenwashing is a PR spin where companies are deceptively marketed as being ‘green’. Do your homework: use social media, their website and TripAdvisor to see what activities they endorse. Lack of environmental, employment and cultural policies, large groups tours and close encounters with wildlife can be serious red flags. If in doubt perhaps look elsewhere or if you are already on the road, ask the locals for advice.
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I study in Brighton, but my family lives in Aberdeen. What is the greenest way to get home, whilst still being sensible and cost-effective?
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I studied in Cornwall, and lived in the East Midlands, so I know your struggle! Using the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factor 2019 report I have compared the five most popular journeys you could take home. Unsurprisingly, flying is the quickest, and with only one person in a small-sized car, driving is the most expensive and environmentally costly. The most green, cost-effective and sensible option is the train. It is relatively cheap using a railcard, is quicker than driving (even with coffee breaks) and is the second most eco-friendly form of travel.
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Can flying ever be sustainable and does offsetting your flights work?
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New and innovative aircraft designs reduce weight, drag and fuel consumption. If biofuels are combined with kerosene fuels it can reduce carbon emissions by ~60%, improving a passenger’s carbon footprint by ~5%. Whilst we have no control over aircraft design and fuel choice, if you need to fly, there are still ways you can limit your impact on the environment. Try reducing the weight of your luggage and choosing direct flights. NASA estimates 25% of carbon emissions are produced during take-off and landing. For long haul flights consider choosing the vegetarian option and bringing your own cutlery.
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Offset using organisations like Gold Standard and the Verified Carbon Standard who help both the environment and local communities. Some argue that offsetting avoids the issue of reducing our net carbon footprint but sometimes that plane, car or train trip is unavoidable. It is better to offset than to ignore our footprint altogether.
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TOP TIP
Finding Refillable Water Stations
Water at Airports is an online forum updated by international travellers. Search via country or IATA airport code to make planning your trip a little easier!
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For UK travel use the Refill app which has a map of water stations in cafes, parks and train stations etc. Also, Refill is looking to expand internationally so watch this space for all your future adventures! Share your refills using #GotTheBottle
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