Minimize emissions for sustainable travel.

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the production, use, and end-of-life cycle of a product or service. It includes carbon dioxide (CO2), the most commonly emitted greenhouse gas by humans, and other gases such as methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (NO2), and fluorine (F). These are greenhouse gases that affect human health and trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

The carbon footprint created by an individual, organization, or country can be direct or indirect. Direct emissions include using energy to drive a car or operate electrical appliances. Indirect emissions are when you use any item that requires energy to produce, such as food or clothing. Typically, the majority of an individual's carbon footprint comes from transportation, housing, and food.

Calculate the carbon footprint of a trip.

Sustainable Travel International, a non-profit organization that researches innovative solutions in tourism, says the industry generates about 8% of the world's carbon emissions.

You can calculate your carbon footprint for both daily life and trips using a carbon footprint calculator app. At the start of a trip, these apps consider the average carbon emissions of different types of travel. For example, the Sustainable Travel International app assumes that a passenger will emit between 0.14 and 0.55 kg of carbon per kilometer flown, depending on cabin class and distance.

However, the type of aircraft and payload also play a role. For other modes of transport, the type of fuel also needs to be considered. Some applications even calculate emissions from the vehicle manufacturing process based on their lifespan. In short, carbon emission calculation applications yield different results depending on the established underlying regulations.

Specifically, the Environmental Protection Agency's application only calculates within the scope of a single household, including energy consumption, personal transportation, and household waste.

Meanwhile, Conservation International, a non-governmental organization dedicated to finding environmental solutions, introduced its carbon tracing app capable of calculating carbon emissions both at home and while traveling.

This application uses platform data from 2013 and 2015 and provides detailed algorithms. For example, a night in a rented room emits approximately 0.0383 kg of carbon per occupied room. Flights under 186 km emit about 0.00025 kg of carbon per person, traveling by subway or metro emits approximately 0.00012 kg of carbon per person, and buses emit around 0.00006 kg of carbon per person.

Methods to minimize carbon footprint

After calculating carbon emissions using these apps, travelers can easily determine what they need to do to reduce carbon emissions. Tourists should consider traveling by train or bus instead of plane for short distances.

According to Conservation International, intercity rail travel generates less than half the carbon emissions of short-haul flights. Furthermore, buses emit only about a quarter of the carbon compared to air travel. Therefore, travelers should choose trips that can reduce their use of public transportation.

However, you don't need to avoid long journeys to drastically cut your carbon footprint. Opt for direct flights on fuel-efficient aircraft. Once you arrive, choose to rent a clean-fuel or electric vehicle instead of a conventional gasoline-powered car for transportation.

Additionally, consider staying at hotels that are committed to sustainable tourism. Otherwise, you can limit your use of air conditioning to a minimum. On the other hand, beef, lamb, and pork all have a high carbon footprint compared to plant-based protein sources. Travelers can opt for vegan meals to gradually reduce their methane and carbon emissions.

Anh Thi