The world is changing, there is no doubting that. And we are starting to see how climate change is impacting the way we travel. We also know that the human population is a big reason for this. Yes, the world is constantly changing, but it shouldn’t be at the rate we are seeing it.
So, what does this mean for the future of travel and how can we, as adventure travelers, be better stewards for positive change?
What is climate change?
First of all, what does the term “climate change” actually mean.
The United Nations defines it as “long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.” Over the last 200 years it has been determined that human impacts have been the biggest drivers of these changes.
How exactly are humans contributing? We know that some of the biggest drivers are fossil fuel use, food production, and deforestation. Our overuse of the planet’s natural resources is causing irreversible damage.
How is climate change impacting the places we travel to?
These shifts in temperatures and weather patterns are being seen in places you wouldn’t normally think about. Most of us think locally when it comes to changes in climate, just look at the increases in wildfires and recent major weather events like heat waves and hurricanes.
But for some, particularly impoverished countries and non- “first-world” countries they are bearing the brunt of our over-exploitation.
Communities in the Arctic are having to abandon the homes they have lived in for generations due to sea level rises. In Africa, droughts are causing people to have to travel further to find drinking water. On islands in Indonesia, rafts of garbage are continually being pushed ashore from the ocean polluting their lands.
How tourism is affecting climate change
As traveler’s we are not only impacted by climate change, we are also contributors. Sustainable Travel International states that tourism alone is responsible for 8% of the global carbon emissions.
This isn’t just from flying, though that makes up the bulk of it. There is also the ecosystem degradation that occurs as countries build out infrastructure to accommodate travelers, excessive use of AC units in hotels, and tourist attractions like boat rides.
How climate change is changing the way we travel
As I said, we are not just contributors, climate change has also changed the way we travel. With extreme weather we are seeing seasonal shifts.
In spring of 2023, the Grand Canyon had to delay opening to those hikers who wished to do the Rim-to-Rim trek due to snow. Lake Tahoe saw record snowfall that year too and had to shut down their ski resorts as snow piled above the chair lifts.
Now those two things have their positives too. More snow, means that the drought that has plagued these areas for years has finally eased and may result in less catastrophic wildfires in the coming summer.
Throughout 2010-2022, we saw some of the worst wildfires in history on the west coast of the United States, making hiking the Pacific Crest Trail impossible and extremely dangerous.
Peak seasons are now shifting in some of our favorite locations. Hurricane season is getting longer, making travel to the Caribbean more challenging.
With temperatures soaring in the summers, multiday treks and bike packing become more dangerous with heat exhaustion being a real threat.
What can travelers do to make a difference
So, with all this doom and gloom, how can we be better? What can we do as adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts to be drivers of change?
Carbon offsetting
There are lots of programs out there for offsetting your carbon when you travel. What does carbon offsetting mean? A carbon offset is basically an activity that leads to a reduction in carbon emissions (or other greenhouse gases) to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.
So, you are basically investing in programs and projects that are reducing carbon emissions to offset the amount of carbon you are producing through travel.
Investopedia provided the Best Carbon Offset Programs of 2023, with Sustainable Travel International being the top rated in tourism.
Choose sustainable travel options
You don’t have to stay at the big hotels. Sure, there is a level of comfort there, knowing what to expect from big names like Marriot and Hilton.
So, how do you go about finding eco-friendly, sustainable hotels? Many booking sites are now jumping on the bandwagon (thankfully) and creating search options like Expedia’s “Green hotels program.” Hotels can also now be certified sustainable.
Also, websites like Eco-tourism World are reliable resources for finding sustainable hotels.
Support organizations that are advocating for change
As outdoor and adventure enthusiasts we all want to see the outdoor spaces we like to play in remain for generations to come. We are drawn to these spaces because they are pristine, beautiful, rugged, and good for our mental health. And because we recognize that we share this planet with some pretty incredible animals.
There are groups out there who want to protect these spaces too. One in particular is POW, or Protect Our Winters. Started by professional snowboarder, Jeremy Jones, POW encourages all of us who love the outdoors to become advocates for change.
Check out the resources section below to learn more and see how you can become a member.
Explore new ways to travel
Air travel isn’t the only form of travel out there. And maybe exploring these other modes of travel will result in the slow travel movement to grow. Why is it that we feel the need to rush through places just so we can say we saw the sites and visited the country? Did we really?
I know, most of us (me included), only have a limited amount of vacation time a year and you want to get the most out of the time you have, but are you really getting to enjoy a place if you’re just rushing from one attraction to the next?
Take a bike, walk, take a train. Stop and try the food. Sit and watch the world go by. There is so much more to a country than the major tourist attractions, this I promise you. Don’t try to race up the mountain. Enjoy the moment, acclimate, take in the view.
And if you must take a plane, as some of those mountains are in pretty remote regions, find other ways to offset your impacts. Minimize the number of times you fly a year. Maybe take a boat next time or a train. I can assure you the experience will only be enriched.
Leave no trace
As outdoor adventure seekers, we want those spaces to stay special for years to come. Leave no trace is a concept I think we can all get behind.
What you pack in, you pack out. But that’s not the only thing you can do. There is an entire movement on ways to better protect our outdoor spaces. Check out the Leave No Trace website in the resources below and learn how you can get involved and be a better steward for the outdoors.
Want to know more? Check out these great resources
Sustainable Travel International
Concluding Thoughts
Climate change affects us all, and I don’t mean just us humans. The choices we make have far reaching impacts, both positive and negative.
As travelers, we can show others through our own personal journeys how to be better stewards for the planet and how change is not intangible. We can show others through our own actions that creating change is not hard to do.
Want more? Check out my post on how communities are living in harmony with nature and how we can too.
