Pledge to Support Environmentally-Friendly Travel like Greta Thunberg

What do you think is environmentally-friendly travel? 

 

That which connects YOU with some of the most spectacular wonders of the planet in a way to be able to TRANSFORM the lives of the people living there, for their GOOD. 

 

“Look after the land and the land will look after you, destroy the land and it will destroy you.” – Aboriginal Proverb

 

So, no matter if it’s a fun vacation you are up for, you’ve to learn to contribute to the environment, the surroundings you are going to find happiness in. Environmentally-friendly travel now matters more than ever before. People like Greta Thunberg & other industry experts are talking about protecting the culture, preserving the environment & supporting the local communities. Through the last decade, the tourism industry has taken many steps to discourage the impact of tourism on the environment & making travelers how it works. According to the latest report, as much as 69% of Americans agree that today, environmentally-friendly travel is important for them. More and more people are making sustainable travel choices and environmentally-friendly travel is no longer a buzzword. 

 

In every area you can think of, there have been powerful voices encouraging people to come forward & contribute — had made a difference in the past. A single voice, powerful enough can move people, communities & societies forward— and the digital landscape has given us numerous ways to say what we wish to say. So, potent voices like Greta Thunberg & Daniela Fernandez are speaking up about environmentally-friendly travel. Greta Thunberg is one of the most popular sustainability advocates and so when she speaks, people believe her. In this article, we’re glad to throw the spotlight on some of the leaders making travelers aware of the significance of environmentally-friendly travel in the upcoming decade. Leisure.com. 

 

1. Daniela Fernandez

 

 

Who is Daniela Fernandez? Daniela Fernandez is the founder of the Sustainable Oceans Alliance. SOA is a global organization that transforms millennials into leaders enabling them to contribute to the preservation of our oceans. He has taken many environmentally-friendly travel initiatives & stood for the cause.

 

Daniela Fernandez on environmental-friendly travel: "In order to save our planet, the tourism industry needs to go past sustainably and into regeneration. Tourism companies, governments, hotels, and travel agencies need to take responsibility for instituting sustainable practices, educating their guests, and enforcing eco-friendly behavior. Although these entities are the ones that hold the power in the consumer's journey, individuals also need to be aware of how their actions can negatively impact the local destinations they travel to."

 

Right after she attended a UN environment meeting, she realized that the clean waters that she used to play with in her childhood, is in jeopardy. She constantly heard about the warming waters, collapsing marine life & acidifying oceans— and she decided to work to protect the waters & work for environmentally-friendly travel. It led to the foundation of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, an NGO that works to educate people about water conservation & empower them to be able to preserve it. 

 

“You have to hold yourself accountable for your actions, and that’s how we’re going to protect the Earth.” – Julia Butterfly Hill

 

2. Greta Thunberg 

 

 

Who is Greta Thunberg? She is a Swedish environment activist who is popularly known for challenging world leaders — to take immediate action against climate change. She is known for speaking fearlessly on climate change & sustainability. 

 

Greta Thunberg on environmental-friendly travel: “I was actually quite surprised to see how bad the indigenous people have been treated. They are the ones who are being impacted often the most and first by the climate and ecological crisis. And they are also the ones who are at the front line trying to fight it.”

 

The teen Swedish climate change activist made news when she went on a European tour to meet politicians regarding raising awareness of climate change by train. In a similar step forward, she attended a United Nations climate meeting in Madrid where she hitched a renewable-energy ride, after which she Tweeted “We sail for home!” Everything she does, has encouraged environmentally-friendly travel. Among the young responsible travelers, train travel has popularized in the last few years. There is this movement 'flygskam' meaning 'flight shame,' — going viral in Sweden. 

 

“Sustainability is no longer about doing less harm. It’s about doing more good.” — Walter Anderson

 

 

3. President Thomas Remengesau, Jr. 

 

 

Who is Thomas Remengesau, Jr.? Thomas Remengesau Jr. is a politician. He was elected the ninth president of Palau in 2013 and was also re-elected to the office in 2016. Before that, he also served as the seventh president from 2001 to 2009. During his tenure at the office, he was known for his initiatives like — banning single-use plastics, runoff of agricultural chemicals into the sea & banning reef-damaging compounds in sunscreens. 

 

Thomas Remengesau, Jr. on environmental-friendly travel: "The environment is our economy. The economy is our environment."

 

Under the administration of the visionary leader, Palau, which is a nation built of 340 islands in the western Pacific — has become one of the exemplary nations in terms of marine conservation & environmentally-friendly travel initiatives. His government has taken many significant steps in terms of environmental conservation so travelers can visit the island without worrying about health hazards— one of which was the establishment of a marine sanctuary meant to protect its waters that include an area that is bigger than the state of California. Palau’s former President is one of the champions of the popular & recognized environment. During his tenure at the office, Palau also gained independence and joined hands with the United Nations. And, today, he continues to work for Palau’s sustainable development and he always keeps conservation of the environment at the forefront of everything. He is working along with philanthropists, NGOs, and other global & regional organizations with a vision to support the development of Palau. 

 

“Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction.” – Dr. Edward O. Wilson

 

Environmentally-friendly travel needs to be a New Normal!

 

“To be able to travel is one of the biggest gifts”-- It makes you a better human being, pushes you out of your comfort zone, gives you a different perspective of the world, and much more. It makes you powerful, but with great power comes the biggest of the responsibilities. When you travel more, you’ve to be better equipped with the knowledge and the depth to influence others to embrace environmentally-friendly travel. There is a lot of work to be done on educating people on climate change, sustainable travel & a lot of other aspects of traveling with a sense of responsibility. This is a massive responsibility on the part of modern, socially conscious travelers to —take care of every aspect of environmentally-friendly travel. If you want to read some wonderful Eco-friendly travel tips, we’ve got you covered.

 

To me, environmentally-friendly travel is — about taking care of your surroundings when you are traveling. It is about finding ways to make memorable experiences without causing harm to the environment. It is about supporting the local communities, protecting the cultural heritage & leaving no environmental footprints. 

 

“An act of violence against nature should be judged as severely as that against society or another person.” – Dr. Michael W.Fox