Global tourism is responsible for approximately 8% of all carbon emissions according to a recent study conducted at the University of Sydney. Thankfully, travelers, as well as operators in the world’s travel and tourism industries, are growing more concerned about the well-being of the environment. This increased demand for sustainability has also inspired eco-inventors to come up with a range of solutions that can reduce the collective carbon footprint of the industry as a whole. Let’s have a closer look at some of the greatest green travel innovations that are taking the world by storm.
Unconventional Buildings Make a Difference
One of the most effective ways to make a hotel more eco-friendly is to construct it with the environment in mind. There are various superb examples of innovative eco-accommodations across the world including the Thala Beach Nature Reserve in Australia where you can sleep in wooden treehouses and Kokopelli’s Cave in New Mexico. Geodesic domes such as those used to construct the Golden Crown Levin Iglut in Levi, Finland, are also generally constructed using considerably fewer materials than a conventional building and can render accommodation a lot more eco-friendly. Although these domes can be constructed using a variety of materials, timber is among the most popular. As it is a naturally-occurring material, using it to construct the frame of the dome can result in considerably less waste.
Electric Transport Reduces Carbon Emissions
Traveling by train, bus, car, or motorbike while traversing the globe can result in large-scale carbon emissions. In a bid to reduce the carbon footprint of travelers, electric transport has become a top priority of ‘green’ inventors. China leads the way when it comes to electric public transport and already has more than 250,000 electric buses operating in its cities. Even air travel is expected to get a very nifty eco-friendly boost next year when battery-powered planes are expected to take to the sky. The planes, which were designed by Israeli startup Eviation, can carry up to nine passengers and are able to travel for 650 miles at a speed of 276 mph. The first batch of short-haul planes has already been sold to the USA.
Community-Powered Tourism for the Win
For many years, Airbnb has been the go-to platform for travelers seeking short-term rentals. Cue Fairbnb, a platform that aims to connect fair hosts with eco-conscious travelers to the benefit of local communities. Fairbnb, which was founded in 2016 and initially only focused on Amsterdam, Venice, and Bologna, transfers an impressive 50% of the fees they receive to worthy community projects in the area where the host is located. This not only helps to redistribute wealth but creates jobs as well. Fast-forward to 2021 and a large number of cities have joined the platform. In addition to private hosts, eco-friendly hotels and naturalistic holiday resorts are also featured on the easy-to-navigate platform.
The global travel and tourism industry is becoming more and more concerned with the environment. Thankfully, due to constant innovations, it is becoming easier than ever before to travel without damaging the environment.
