Least to Most Sustainable Transportation Methods
Whether it's renting an uber or flying somewhere, convenient means of travelling have allowed us to reach levels of mobility our ancestors could only dream of. In only several hours, you can be half a world away from home, witnessing wonders you'd never have imagined decades ago.
However, there is a dark side to this convenience – fuel-based travelling releases dangerous amounts of gas emissions (mainly CO2), placing it in the top among the most polluting industries around the world. These emissions are the main cause for many environmental disasters around the globe – melting ice caps, climate change, heatwaves and floods that destroy precious ecosystems are only a few examples.
I get it, though - when it comes to holidays, it can be hard to always stay mindful of the most sustainable choices, as we are also looking for convenient means of travel and minimal time loss. For example, you wouldn't recommend someone took the bike instead of a flight to travel on the other side of the globe.
Below, you can find a ranking of all means of transportation, as well as advice on how to balance your holiday needs with making sustainable choices, in order to enjoy an environmentally conscious holiday in the best way possible.
Travelling to your destination
3rd Place: Airplanes
Being able to fly long distance truly is one of the marvels of modern technology. Airplanes allow us to get very fast to places far, far away while on holiday, and admire beautiful views from above the clouds.
However, I chose airplanes as the bottom of my list, as they are rightfully considered the most damaging means of transport to the environment - although they make up only 13.4% of total transport emissions (compared to cars which amount to 72% of the same total), the amount of carbon release per kilometre travelled exceeds the one of every other means of transportation.
One important mention is that a lot of the fuel consumed by an aircraft comes from the fuel used during take-offs and landings. This means that short distance travel by plane is way more damaging than long distance travel, so if you are planning a domestic trip for example, choosing to fly as opposed to riding a train or coach would lead to way more damage than it’s worth.
In France, the government actually banned the use of domestic air routes where there is a train journey that would take under 2.5 hrs – a lot of countries should follow this example, but until then, it’s important that each of us stays mindful of our own individual consumption.
2nd Place: Cars
As I mentioned above, gas emissions from car travel amount to 72% of all transport-related pollution, so I’ve chosen them as my second worst choice when it comes to holiday travels.
Sure, cars have their pros – they are private and great for a family holiday, and don’t rely on a strict schedule like flights or trains. They are also great for accessibility purposes, as they allow you to get to places outside cities or out in nature, unreachable by train or bus (for example, if you decide to go camping).
However, it’s because cars only transport a small amount of people that they end up causing a lot more damage to the environment than any other means of transportation.
If you need help deciding how to travel for your next holiday, your best option is considering the distance you are travelling. On average, if you are travelling a longer distance (above 1000 km) or need to cross several borders, flying would actually result in less greenhouse gas emissions than driving. If you are travelling within the country, or on distances less than 1000km, driving would be preferrable to flying, but even then, trains would be a much better option for you.
1st Place: Trains
We’ve reached the top of my list, which is, of course, trains. Railway travel amounts to a total of only 0.5% of all gas emissions worldwide, which is a huge difference from airplanes and cars, making it the perfect transportation method for any of you sustainable travellers out there looking to make a difference.
Not only are trains the pinnacle of environmental friendliness, but they are efficient, comfortable, and tend to be cheaper than flight tickets or car fuel, so you can protect the environment and your wallet by using them.
The only slight downside of trains is that, unfortunately, there are developing countries where railway systems are not developed to their full potential just yet – this means you may have to give up some comfort and change one or two trains to reach a certain destination, and you might also be more restricted timewise due to train timetables.
Don’t beat yourself up if you cannot travel conveniently by train to your destination, as long as you try your best to make up for it with your sustainable travel habits while on holiday.
Moving around while on holiday
4th Place: Taxi/uber
Once you’ve reached your dreamy holiday destination, there’s still the question of how to move around during your trip.
In my opinion, taxis or Ubers are probably at the bottom of the list when it comes to sustainability. They use a lot of fuel and so they add to the levels of city pollution (which is becoming more and more of a threat, especially in big cities) – not only that, but a cab on average transports 2-3 people, so if everybody is using a cab, it also increases the levels of traffic in the city.
Surely cars are quite convenient, but most areas should be easily reachable by foot or by cycling, and farther areas can be reached by bus or train, so there should be no issue in deleting that Uber app on your phone.
Not only that, but cars can also be incredibly restricting when it comes to experiencing a new place – by choosing alternatives such as public transport or even walking/cycling, you get to experience the local culture better, immersing yourself completely in the environment.
3rd Place: Bus
On average, buses tend to be slightly worse than trains when it comes to the levels of gas emissions into the atmosphere, but they are still way ahead of cars, so consider using public transport while on holiday to keep your carbon footprint as low as possible. Buses will use the same amount of fuel no matter how people use them, so it’s better to simply use a bus than add to the fuel consumption by using a car.
Buses also tend to be quite cheap even in bigger cities, and most also offer day tickets or even week-long tickets which you can use non-stop while on holiday. Figuring out bus routes by yourself in a completely new place can also be quite a satisfying experience, making you feel more connected to the area. Keep in mind that buses usually work on stricter schedules so you may need to plan your day trips accordingly.
2nd Place: Walking
Walking is definitely at the top of the list - after all, it has almost no environmental impact and generates no damaging gases.
Wherever you go on holiday, make sure you spend at least a few hours outside walking around the streets or in nature - this will have amazing benefits for your health, not just the environment, and it also allows you to fully explore your surroundings. All you need is a reusable water bottle and your phone camera, and you have a full day's schedule of exploring different places and immortalising those precious memories.
The only downside of walking everywhere is that it is tiring and time consuming, and too much walking in the sun without proper hydration could cause some health issues, especially during summer. These can be fixed with proper preparation or combined with cycling or public transport use.
1st Place: Cycling
Although walking and cycling are both considered the most sustainable methods of transportation, I have to say cycling takes the first place for me.
Just like walking, cycling produces no carbon emissions and has massive health benefits, not to mention it allows you to explore and admire your surroundings just like walking. It also requires less energy than simply walking, and is a lot faster, which is why I chose it as 1st place in this ranking. While on holiday, you can cycle through parks and green areas, or through areas with no cars, leading to a quiet, peaceful, and enjoyable experience. Of course, make sure you follow the designated cycling routes as to not inconvenience drivers and passers-by.
A lot of cities nowadays are implementing public bike-rental systems to help tourists, as well as locals move around, and they tend to be fairly cheap, so be on the lookout for those wherever you go.
Travelling-based gas emissions still put a lot of pressure on our environment, so if you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint while on holiday, choosing the ideal means of transportation will go a long way in protecting the environment.