Travel & Transportation

Today, domestic transport accounts for one third of Sweden’s total amount of greenhouse gas emissions and a huge part of the transport system is still dependent on fossil fuel. Transportation of people and goods has therefore a significant effect on the environment. It is mainly the consumption of fuel; petrol and diesel, that accounts for the largest emissions during transport. Although, the emissions can vary greatly between different means of transport and are determined by the driving range of the vehicle, how much fuel the vehicle consumes and, last but not least, how large a share of the fuel consists of renewable vs fossil fuels. There are several aspects to consider when choosing sustainable travel and transportation.

• How do you get to your destination? The means of transport is very important as greenhouse gas emissions vary greatly between different modes of transport.
• How often do you travel and where? Flying to Asia once every five years can be far more sustainable than flying on several weekend trips within Europe each year.
• How do you act at the destination? Acting in an environmentally friendly way may be difficult to maintain when travelling in places you are not familiar with. Some planning and reflection may be required both before and during the journey.

A conscious holiday trip

Over the next twenty years, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicts that the number of international holiday trips will almost double globally, which will mean a vast increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Being a sustainable tourist requires a holistic view of the holiday, i.e., to focus not only on transport mode but also on the choice of accommodation, food and what you do on your trip in general. For more information about how you can make your holiday more sustainable please see the pages about hotel & accommodation, food and beverage. For tips when it comes to shopping, please see clothes & shoes as well as skin care & hygiene.

Conscious choices before the travel

• Consider a staycation to seize the opportunity to discover favorite places nearby. There is often a lot to discover closer than you think. Make day trips by bike, enjoy the archipelago, the countryside, the forest!
• If possible, get around by bus and train! Within Europe? Read more here.
• Are you considering taking the boat because you heard about the climate impact of aviation? It is not certain that it will be an environmental benefit. Ferries require a lot of fuel, which leads to high greenhouse gas emissions. Fast ferries are worse than slower ferries. In addition to the greenhouse gases, the ferries have other negative effects on the environment. Read more about ferries here.
• If you are going to fly, choose an airline that is connected to a trade union and that guarantees good working conditions. Charter flights are better than scheduled flights as they usually have higher occupancy rate and fewer stopovers. Read more about aviation here.
• Consider whether you cannot make a single long trip instead of several short ones.
• Borrow a suitcase instead of buying a new one, and if you buy a new one, consider quality before quantity.
• Download tickets digitally and save unnecessary paper.

 

Choice of accommodation

• Choose an accommodation with a genuine sustainable profile or eco-label. Find out what the working conditions are where you stay.
• Be critical and find out the facts when tour operators attract with “ecotourism” and unique nature experiences. Sometimes this type of tourism is not good for animals and nature, especially if it becomes too large-scale. Serious ecotourism, on the other hand, can lead to the protection of unique nature and culture when it is possible to make money by protecting it.

Conscious choices at your destination

• Keep in mind that in some countries there is a shortage of water. Do not waste water, take short showers.
• If you cannot drink tap water at the destination, buy larger bottles.
• Buy locally produced food and drinks, as well as fruits and vegetables which are in season.
• Bring your usual environmental sense on holiday. If it is not easy to recycle, point it out to the hotel and the tour operator – ask, ask, ask!

Trips, activities, and souvenirs

• Explore the country via ecotourism.
• Get around by public transport, rent a bike/electric bike or walk.
• Visit and encourage local initiatives to encourage tourism that is owned and run by the local residents and avoid all-inclusive as they are usually owned by foreign companies and only a limited part of the profit benefits the local community.
• During your staycation, make sure to protect our right of public access and our nature; do not pick protected flowers and do not fish protected fish.
• During the holiday abroad, make sure not to buy coral, ivory, bird eggs or anything else that may be a product from poaching or the like. Also avoid buying excursions that involve the use of animals such as elephant riding, as the animals are often treated very badly.
• Be aware that unfortunately in some places there is child labour, sexual harassment, and harmful work environment. It is therefore of great importance that you as a tourist find out what the conditions are like where you are a tourist and make active choices.

 

Page updated 2021.