Climate change is one of the biggest threats to the world, and we are not doing enough to curb its consequences. While the recent few years have seen a surge in sustainable practices and environmentally-conscious habits, there is still a long way to go before the impact of climate change is reduced on the planet, and with the way things are right now, the foreseeable future only witnesses further damage due to an increase in global warming.
One of the many genres of our lives that are especially concentrated around nature, include travel. While we love trekking little hills in the countryside, or picnics by the beach, we often forget to look after the nature that provides us with so much more than just leisure and enjoyment. As humans progressed, more of the environment saw damage. Trees were cut to form camping sites, beaches were crowded with empty packets and single-use plastic that contaminated the beach and threatened the life of marine wildlife, woods were littered and safaris caused harm to the animals as visitors misused the greatly preserved sanctuaries and businesses in the sector encouraged this to increase their revenue.
Travel and tourism is predominantly linked to the ecosystem as the idea of travel is based on the foundation of wanting to explore nature. While this, from the consumer point of view seems ideal, in reality, it has caused damage that is beyond repair to nature. While icing the situation is a longshot, the introduction of the concept of nature positive travel is hope for restoration.
Studies conducted by environmentalists display that 75% of biodiversity on land, and 66% of the marine environment is plagued by irreversible damage caused due to unsustainable human activity. The threat is deeply ingrained in our lifestyles while we choose to ignore the doom that might be upon us in a few years if we do not participate in any action conducted to mitigate the impact of climate change.
The first step in the process is awareness, we as the community should research on climate change, its adversities and how best we can avoid contributing to the problem and be part of the solution instead. Another key factor to keep in mind is to research travel plans in order to accommodate environmentally-friendly habits and practices, and make arrangements accordingly.
If you are a frequent traveller, and one that craves the company of the outdoors, then it is recommended to always carry a separate bag in order to collect your litter and dispose of it correctly. Carrying reusable cutlery such as metal forks, spoons and straws is also better than single-use plastic cutlery.
It is also important to ensure that your actions do not harm or inconvenience animals in any way. For starters, smoking in the outdoors would cause great harm to animals as they might experience health hazards due to the smoke. It is also important to avoid noise pollution when in the woods so the wildlife isn’t disturbed.
One of the key problems with regard to pollution and travel is the incorrect disposal of single-use plastic which is carelessly scattered on beach shores and the outdoors in general. This plastic releases toxins into the water which holds the power to demolish marine wildlife.
While it may seem like climate change is a battle we may never win against, the small steps we take to reiterate our habits to suit the planet, is what makes a world of difference. Pollution is in our direct control, we can stop polluting by changing our habits. This would make the entire ecosystem a better place, and travel, a whole lot more fun.
