You’ve just got your beach towel, found the perfect place to settle down under the shade of an umbrella, and are ready to relax with cocktail in hand. Your phones on silent (no work calls: result!). Your computer’s safely back at home, with no summative in sight (get in!) There’s nothing but the rolling waves, the fluttering of birds, and the thought that the flight you just took has dumped 5.81 tonnes of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. 

One’s carbon footprint isn’t often what people consider on their holiday agenda. However, where carbon dioxide levels have increased by more than 22% in less than 44 years and more and more people are taking flights around the world, the impact on emissions on climate change is a serious one. Heathrow airport alone suggests that with they had on average 536 daily flights arriving or departing in 2021 alone . 

When I first went to Western Australia as part of the UEA Study Abroad programme, I admit that I wasn’t thinking very much about my carbon footprint. But with the almost daily occurrence of wildfires, temperatures in soaring to over 50 degrees in parts of WA, and many of the coral reefs I visited bleached, I felt like something had to be done. By reducing my carbon footprint, I was able to enjoy the rest of my study abroad guilt free. So, below I will list some things I did to help lower my carbon footprint on holiday (whilst still enjoying a cheeky cocktail on the beach). 

1. Get a non-stop flight 

If you can, getting a non-stop flight helps to save emissions because the plane takes the most direct path to your destination. That way, you can have peace of mind not needing to worry about your emission impact AND trying to find the right gate at your stopover. 

2. Use public transport 

Planes aren’t the only things to consider when planning to lower your carbon footprint on holiday. Like it or not, public transport is great to get you around a city in an economic and low-emission way. In Perth I could on a train, bus or ferry to go to the city or further afield. It was a great way to explore a new country by seeing things and meeting people you wouldn’t experience through a taxi alone. 

3. Eat local cuisine 

Being the downfall of my wallet, I was lucky enough to get my food from the local market down at Fremantle. Shopping locally is a great way to lower emissions, because there is less packaging and transportation needed for the supplier to get the food from producer to buyer. It also is a great way to get to know the vendors, support independent businesses, and discover local food specialties which you might have otherwise missed. 

Photocredit: Neils and Marco on Unsplash