Travel

Whether you go to the beaches of the Mediterranean or the pristine landscape of the Arctic, if and how you travel can have a huge impact on the environment.

Follow our simple guide and make an informed choice about your journey...

1. Ask yourself whether you really need to make that trip

When you travel you are contributing to emissions of climate change causing carbon dioxide. Therefore the best solution is to try to avoid travel where ever possible.

Ask yourself whether your business meeting could be replaced by talking over the phone or using video conferencing (you can even organize a Climate Care Day in your company). If you are going on vacation, think about visiting locations that are closer to home.

2. If you do need to travel, choose the most environmentally friendly option available

Sometimes, of course, travel can't be avoided. The WWF Travel Helper therefore helps you make the right choices, so you can find the travel option with the lowest carbon footprint and also offset the environmental cost of the journey.

By offsetting with Gold Standard carbon credits, you will be investing in projects that reduce the equivalent amount of greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere by your trip.

3. Choose the right place to stay

Make sure you choose accommodation that recycle, have effective waste treatment systems, are energy efficient, and, where possible, use environmentally friendly energy sources such as solar energy or hydroelectric power.

Also look out for hotels that participate in WWF's Check Out for Nature programme. Participating Hotels will add a Euro (or its equivalent value) to your hotel bill when you check out at the end of your stay, which will be used to support our conservation work around the world.

4. At your destination

Once you arrive at your destination there are lots of things you can do to reduce the impact of your trip.

The money you spend helps determine the development and direction of tourism. So make sure you use your money to support reputable, conservation-minded tour operators and suppliers. Find out more about what you can do whilst you are away.

5. Coming home

Some souvenirs could end up costing a lot more than you paid for them.

Think twice before you buy any products made from any endangered species, including animal hides and body parts, tortoise-shell, ivory, or coral - they could be illegal.

Visit WWF-US's Buyer Beware website for information that can help you say "no" to illegal wildlife products. And check out our tips; Ten things not to buy for Christmas.