Wanderlust, The Travel Green List 2024

The Travel List

Our second annual celebration of sustainable travel showcases more than 100 destinations, organisations, accommodation and projects making positive impacts. But how did we arrive at this selection?

When we think realistically about what sustainable travel is, it’s often helpful to consider first what it’s not. Sustainable travel is not about sailing across an ocean instead of flying, for example. Sure, the carbon emissions of a sailing boat pale into insignificance compared with those of a plane – but will a sailing boat change the travel industry? I’m afraid that, available to no more than a handful of people, it will not.

That’s why this second annual Travel Green List is not an exercise in daydreaming of reducing travel emissions to zero. Instead, it’s about recognising the need for serious changes to dozens of seemingly small practices across dozens of business types, and dozens of personal choices. And it’s about celebrating those who are saying “yes” to the challenge with enthusiasm – even those who are starting from a low level.

As editors, we dug through our travel notes to find stand-out examples from around the world. And we were heartened to see hundreds of proposals flood our inbox relating to all seven continents – yes, there were even some about Antarctica.

Which begs the question: can travel to a frozen, unpopulated continent, where absolutely everything must be imported from thousands of miles away, ever be considered sustainable? Clearly, after hundreds of hours of research, debate and follow-up questions, our judges and sustainability editors had to strike a balance between pragmatism and idealism. And we have to acknowledge that every kind of travel is happening – no one is asking a sustainability judge for permission.

To assess these places, organisations and projects, we recruited six expert judges –including university professors, entrepreneurs, and award-winning journalists and authors, introduced on the opposite page – to help review and investigate entries.

Instead of seeking perfection, we looked for the best ways to go where travellers are going– where there is a best way. Where we don’t feel that there is, we simply had to say no. For example, you won’t find any overwater bungalows on deserted islands in these pages because, frankly, there are plenty of more sustainable ways to enjoy a beach. Large cruise ships, with their long rap sheets

Local action (above, from left) Activities at the Wilderness Center explore the local impacts of and solutions to climate change in the Adirondacks of upstate New York; many vineyards in Bordeaux are adopting biodynamic practices and creating wildlife corridors to support biodiversity; underwater sculptures in Grenada are providing sites where corals and other marine life can thrive, as well as diverting divers and snorkellers away from vulnerable reefs that could be damaged by overtourism

of environmental problems, are also absent. And, as when considering possible Antarctic entries, we looked for the lightest impact on the environment and the most benefit to nature and science.

We don’t set out to select winners – you’ll notice that there are no rankings. We’re simply excited to highlight more than 100 examples showing just how much good is possible in travel. These entries highlight carbon reduction and removal, meaningful employment and education for local people,

Ketti

Wilhelm Wanderlust Sustainability Editor at Large

Jeremy Smith Co-founder, Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency

Lee Mylne Author of Sustainable Travel for Dummies

and innovative ways to support biodiversity – from coral reef restoration and firefly conservation to big-game photo safaris – to cite just a few factors.

Note that while all entries have been examined by our experienced panel of judges, we do rely to some degree on information provided by the nominated organisations, so can’t take responsibility for any outside inaccuracies. However, we are here to celebrate their well-deserved achievements in pushing sustainability forwards.

More than carbon (this page, clockwise from left) A sink for millions of tonnes of carbon, Croatia’s Plitvice National Park also provides large-scale local employment; the Rigi Railway near Lucerne, Switzerland is powered by 100% renewable energy; in Colombia, Green Apple Foundation not only recycles glass but also supports female artisans who craft products from discarded bottles

After a rigorous selection process, our hope is that this year’s Travel Green List will be an inspiration to us all in terms of both the powerful choices we can make on our travels and the changes that we might be able to make in our communities, too. Because many of these projects have been launched by community organisations or small companies that decided to believe in the big impact they could have. Who knows? Maybe in a year or two you’ll be reading about your own idea in the Green List.

Andy Dosmann Associate Professor at Minerva University, San Francisco

John Telfer Consultant and chair of Explore Foundation

Christina Beckmann

Head of Tomorrow’s Air at Adventure Travel Trade Association

George

Lyn

Lebawit Lily Girma Award-winning travel journalist

Kipouros Wanderlust Editor in Chief

Hughes Wanderlust Founding Editor

Destinations

Travel can have negative impacts on the places we visit – but we’re celebrating a host of initiatives benefiting local communities and the environment

Africa

ZAMBIA

One long-standing problem facing Africa – particularly its national parks – is human-wildlife conflict: the result of tension caused when free-roaming animals prey on livestock or plunder the crops of surrounding farms and villages, sometimes provoking retaliatory killings. One powerful solution is to channel some of the money generated by tourism into educating and compensating affected people.Two great examples can be found in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. Since 2010, Project Luangwa –

funded from a portion of profits at safari lodges – has been investing in schools and education, teaching children and communities the benefits of protecting wildlife and local ecosystems. Another enterprising initiative is Mulberry Mongoose, run by women in South Luangwa who craft jewellery from materials collected locally, including wire from poachers’ snares. Money raised from sales – over US$150,000 so far – helps support local communities and conservation projects. projectluangwa.org; mulberrymongoose.com

LOISABA CONSERVANCY, LAIKIPIA COUNTY KENYA

Lion, elephant, giraffe, African wild dog and Grevy’s zebra are just some of the creatures you might encounter within Loisaba’s 23,000-plus hectares. Created by the Loisaba Community Trust, in partnership with Nature Conservancy and Space for Giants, it aims to facilitate coexistence between Maasai farming communities and the area’s rich and diverse megafauna. Earlier this year, conservationists relocated 21 critically endangered eastern black rhino to the conservancy – an action considered crucial for the long-term survival of the subspecies, and the first time it’s been present in the region since 1976. Ecotourism is vital to the conservancy’s operation, and a levy from the three luxury Elewana Collection camps goes to surrounding villages. loisaba.com

Asia

HOKKAIDO JAPAN

For generations, Japan’s Ainu, who speak a language distinct from Japanese, were treated as second-class citizens.Though recognised as an indigenous people by UNESCO only as recently as 2007, in 2019 Japan passed a law mandating the protection and promotion of this unique culture.

Today, with the establishment of museums and cultural centres across Hokkaido – Japan’s northernmost main island, and the Ainu’s stronghold – you’ll find numerous opportunities to learn about this culture and interact with Ainu communities.

The Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park, opened in the small town of Shiraoi in 2020, serves as a community centre where Ainu people can practise their traditions. And in Nibutani, the district with the highest proportion of Ainu people in Japan, the Biratori Municipal Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum displays nearly 1,000 exhibits.

Hokkaido’s capital, Sapporo, has its own Ainu cultural centre, Pirka Kotan– a hands-on experiential space, and the first of its kind in Japan. ainu-upopoy.jp/en; biratori-ainu-culture.com/ en/trip/nibutani-museum; sapporo.travel/en/ spot/facility/sapporo-pirka-kotan

ISHIKAWA PREFECTURE JAPAN

This prefecture on the north coast of Honshu island, which was hit by a devastating earthquake in January, has a longstanding commitment to preserving and promoting its cultural heritage dating back to the Edo period (1603–1867). During that era, the Maeda family – which ruled the region that’s now Ishikawa – prioritised cultural and industrial development over military build-up, fostering the growth of crafts, Noh theatre, tea ceremonies and flower arranging.

Ishikawa’s capital city, Kanazawa, has a unique history: a well-preserved castle town established by samurai in the 16th century, it was designated a UNESCO Creative City in the 21st.Though Japan’s traditional craft industries have faced economic challenges in recent years, local institutions and schemes are supporting young artists, while

initiatives such as the Kanazawa Ichigo Ichie Programme allow visitors to try their hands at advanced techniques. Local travel agencies collaborate with craftspeople to offer studio visits, supporting this unique local economy. https://www.ishikawatravel. jp/en; visitkanazawa.jp/en/ichigo-ichie

KAZAKHSTAN

Five years ago, residents of the KatonKaragay district – a sweep of lonely steppe, mountains and forests in far eastern Kazakhstan – faced a dilemma.Though home to the country’s largest national park and around 275 bird species, its 48 villages attracted few visitors, and there was little work available. As a result, its population had almost halved since the turn of the century, many residents having moved to cities in search of employment. So in 2019 the Sustainable Rural Development Fund was launched, with the aim of improving the quality of life in three remote districts, including Katon-Karagay. Key to this effort was the creation of sustainable community tourism opportunities, including training guesthouse owners and opening a hospitality school. Money has also been allocated to trail maintenance, signs and a tourist information centre, making it easier for travellers to explore a region whose communities and culture are finally being appreciated. en.furst.kz

SINGAPORE

The evolution of Singapore as the ‘Garden City’ is part of the Green Plan 2030, developing the national agenda on sustainable lines – and, in the process, making its wilder corners ever more attractive to visitors. Initiatives such as the Rail Corridor – a disused railway line transformed into a 24km-long green ribbon enhancing wildlife movement and public recreation – are encouraging low-impact tourism. Other sights, such as the Gardens by the Bay

⊲

– waterfront nature parks dominated by steel-framed supertrees and domes filled with flowers and forests – and the 10km-long Southern Ridges, laced with trails linking forests and parks, help showcase Singapore’s green heart. There are plans to triple cycle paths and electrify public transport, while hotel brands such as ParkRoyal, Swissôtel and Fairmont are cultivating rooftop gardens to supplement in-house menus.

Australia & Pacific

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA

2023 was a busy year for this region. In addition to the launch of several new events and tours led by Indigenous people,Tourism Tropical North Queensland partnered with Reforest on an initiative planting native tree species in the Mabi rainforest. This is certainly one of the best ways to ensure that carbon offsetting is effective and measurable: with projects that are close to home and, therefore, easy for locals to see, benefit from and verify.

Clear-cutting for farming and commercial forestry has left less than 4% of the

original native habitat of the Mabi intact – a habitat that harbours exceptional biodiversity, with an estimated 70% of its plants and animals unique to the region. So far, more than 1,500 trees have been planted, and the programme is ongoing.

To find Indigenous experiences in the region, including tours, galleries and cultural events, visit: tropicalnorthqueensland. org.au/things-to-do/arts-culture

For more inspiration on sustainable travel here, see: tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/ plan-your-trip/sustainable-travel

THE KIMBERLEY AUSTRALIA

This immense wilderness spanning over 42 million hectares – not too far shy of Spain’s land area – is home to an incredible richness and diversity of native wildlife. In fact, much

TE UREWERA AOTEAROA (NEW ZEALAND)

Encompassing the largest rainforest on the North Island of Aotearoa (the Māori-language name for New Zealand), Te Urewera is a sparsely populated area that has been home to the indigenous Tūhoe people for centuries. Having been managed as a national park for 60 years, in 2014 a new law – the first of its kind on the planet – changed the status of Te Urewera. From being government property, it became recognised as a legal entity in itself, with the Tūhoe people as its legal guardians. This groundbreaking law effectively granted the forest the same legal rights, powers and duties as a person. We think it’s worth celebrating 10 years of this exciting concept in conservation, demonstrating powerful, big-picture changes. In the decade since that move, the Whanganui River and Mount Taranaki have also been granted personhood status. Visitors can explore the rainforest through guided treks, experiences and bush-camp stays with Tūhoe-owned operator Te Urewera Treks. teureweratreks.co.nz

of the Kimberley is a stronghold for many endemic species and, particularly, mammals extirpated elseswhere since European colonisation. Efforts to preserve that record face major challenges, from increasing incidents of wildfires to invasive plants and animals. Now, as part of efforts to address these problems, successful collaborations have resulted in the return of significant land and wildlife management to Indigenous people.

One important recent development represents a profound systemic change in Australia: the transfer of 165,000 hectares of pastoral lease land on the El Questro property to its Traditional Owners, the Ngarinyin. Since finalising the transfer in mid-2023, that land has been managed by its Traditional Owners as a nature reserve, creating significant social and economic opportunities. Tourism will continue to thrive at the popular El Questro site, with more cultural experiences created to help visitors learn about Indigenous culture. elquestro.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST AUSTRALIA

In June 2023, a trip CO2 calculator was added to the Visit Sunshine Coast website, enabling visitors to tally their emissions and contribute to local forest restoration projects in the region’s three UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.

Though trees are important for storing carbon, they require consistent land management and a stable climate to maintain that storage for more than 50 years – so we’ll be watching this programme to gauge its long-term effectiveness. So far, though, progress looks good: 741 trees were planted in the first eight months of the programme, and the initiative helps travellers understand their emissions while supporting positive local action.

You can track contributions made by both the Sunshine Coast tourism industry and visitors in real time at: visitsunshine coast.com/sunshine-coast-sustainabilityprogram-dashboard Alamy

PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK CROATIA

As well as providing a haven for biodiversity, the beech, fir and spruce forests of Plitvice Lakes National Park rank fourth among UNESCO World Heritage sites worldwide for the amount of CO2 absorbed per hectare from the atmosphere – storing an impressive 3.8 million tonnes in total. Protecting this valuable resource is the main focus of the park management, which has also been

working to improve sustainability in all areas of its work. The park now employs about 1,000 people – some 80% of the local population – who receive free bus transport to work, eliminating the need for private vehicles and the pollution they emit. All buildings in the park are now powered by 100% certified renewable energy, too, and all plastics used are recycled. np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en

Europe

SEEFELD AUSTRIA

The town of Seefeld, in the state ofTyrol, sits on a beautiful, high plateau in Karwendel Nature Park – the largest in Austria, spanning over 73,000 hectares – and less than 40 minutes by train from Innsbruck.Though perhaps best known as the venue for various events during theWinter Olympics in 1964 and 1976, it’s a year-round outdoor playground – and a sustainability innovator. In 2023, the Seefeld region was one of the first two to be awarded the Austrian Ecolabel for Tourist Destinations, recognising tangible and measurable sustainability actions.

Guests arriving by train and staying for at least one night are given a guest card entitling them to free use of public transport throughout the region. The Echtes Plateauprodukt (Genuine Plateau Product) and Plateau Breakfast labels have been developed to help visitors identify and buy

local products. And the region has implemented many initiatives to protect biodiversity, from replacing lawns with native flower meadows to reforesting wooded areas with a greater variety of species in order to speed up adaptation to climate change. seefeld.com/en

GOTHENBURG AND WEST SWEDEN

The region of West Sweden, and its compact, walkable and transit-friendly main city, Gothenburg, are delivering creative, innovative projects that prove just how

much better tourism can be – for climate, visitors and locals alike.

West Sweden’s online Climate Smart Holidays tool is more than just another carbon calculator. It’s a selection of five packages, with stays in unique accommodation such as glass cabins and the lowest possible CO2 emissions.Visitors are encouraged to travel by train, and can be picked up at a station in an electric car for the last stretch. All food served is sourced locally. Exact emissions have been calculated and shared online, too, so travellers can see the massive difference taking a Climate Smart Holiday makes compared with, for example, a trip to the Canary Islands. vastsverige.com/ en/travel/climate-smart-holidays

ZÜRICH SWITZERLAND

Named the city with the cleanest air in the world in 2024, Zürich is doing plenty to allow visitors to breathe easier and reduce their environmental footprint. In a city where parking is scarce, and nearly twice as many people have bicycles as own cars,

SWITZERLAND

Switzerland has long led the way in sustainability, and the tourism office’s approach has developed in tandem with the ‘Swisstainable’ national sustainability strategy. Along with other initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and encourage travellers to explore lesser-known areas, the Swiss Travel Pass makes it easier for visitors to take full advantage of efficient trains, boats and buses across the country. This single ticket covers travel on public transport nationwide for three, four, six, eight or 15 consecutive days, with prices starting at £222. Various services have been upgraded to be more sustainable; for example, in 2023 the Pilatus Bahnen near Lucerne – the world’s steepest cogwheel railway – launched trains with energyefficient drive technology. And national carrier SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines) aims to halve its carbon emissions from 2019 levels by 2030, investing in more-efficient aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo – with each generation of SWISS planes emitting up to 25% less CO2 than its predecessor. swissrailways.com/en; pilatus.ch/en; swiss.com

the excellent light rail system and abundance of cycle lanes are boons for travellers and locals alike. Just hopping on tram 4 – known unofficially as the ‘Culture Line’, linking many of the city museums – feels like a step in the right direction.

When booking tours and excursions, look for the ‘green leaf’ logo, indicating that these either produce no harmful emissions or offset any that are produced. Many dining venues in the city have embraced plant-based and vegan eating, too. Indeed, this trend was arguably set here in 1898, with the opening of HiltlVegimetzg – reputedly the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world. zuerich.com/en/visit/sustainable-zurich

BORDEAUX FRANCE

Wine is life in Bordeaux – and winemakers are taking great strides in ensuring that both wine and life are greener. By 2020, some three-quarters of the region’s vineyard area had adopted a certified environmental

approach to production, embracing holistic methods such as biodynamics, using draught horses to till the soil, and creating ecological corridors to enable safe movement of wildlife. Estate tours are more than merely cellar tastings these days, too; they inform and educate visitors about the benefits of organic and environmentally friendly techniques. At Château de La Dauphine, for example, visitors can tour the estate’s permaculture vegetable garden, beehives and aquaponics. At the Caves de Rauzan estate, a 5km-long family-friendly biodiversity trail runs through the vineyards, introducing the flora and fauna living here. And the city’s BordeauxWine Festival has been eco-certified since 2021 – waste is composted, singleuse plastic has been eliminated,

and emissions are measured, with efforts made to reduce them further. All in all, there’s plenty to ponder as you pedal – or perhaps e-bike – your way between these greenest of vineyards. chateau-dauphine. com/en; cavederauzan.com/agenda; bordeauxwine-festival.com

JULIAN ALPS SLOVENIA

The Julian Alps Biosphere Reserve has developed a holistic approach to sustainable tourism.Travellers are encouraged to choose lower-emission transportation and tour options, and communities receive funding to help deal with the kind of tourism-related issues that often get glossed over – such as overloaded car parks during busy travel periods. More than 185 small businesses have been assisted in earning sustainability certifications, and logos are issued to identify locally made products, encouraging visitors to buy food and other goods from the region.

MADEIRA PORTUGAL

Though island capital Funchal is a major cruise port, the rest of Madeira isn’t geared up for mass tourism. Instead, this tiny volcanic island – which already derives about one-third of its energy from hydro, solar and wind power – is increasingly embracing slow travel. A focus on small-scale, low-impact tourism has prompted more agritourism stays, organic vineyards and even a solar-powered catamaran tour. Two-thirds of the total area of the archipelago is protected, and Europe’s largest marine reserve, around the Selvagens Islands, was created in 2021. In 2020, Porto Santo – Madeira’s smaller sibling a little to the north-east, an important haven for the vulnerable Mediterranean monk seal – was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. To really minimise your footprint, hike Madeira’s extensive network of levadas (aquaducts), past natural pools and crashing waterfalls, to discover island life in the slow lane. sustainableforall. visitmadeira.com/en/ ⊲

Destination-specific Julian Alps Cards, some included in the cost of accommodation bookings, offer benefits including free bus travel and free or discounted excursions, tours and admission to attractions. For adventurers keen to get out into the mountains, sustainable options abound in every season.The 290km Juliana Bike route is augmented by over 650km of digitally mapped trails comprising the Julian Alps Bike Network. Note that forest managers may close off specific areas or sections of trails during the mating seasons of endangered animal species. For the winter months, the Juliana SkiTour is a fourstage, 52km route, guided or self-guided, that avoids designated ‘quiet zones’ to avoid disturbing wildlife. julian-alps.com/en

VALENCIA SPAIN

In 2019,Valencia was the first city in the world to measure the carbon and water footprints of its tourism – and then saw those emissions decrease by nearly 8% to 2022. Efforts to make this coastal city even more sustainable are ongoing. Named European Green Capital for 2024,Valencia is working to be emission-neutral by 2030.

Various initiatives aim to create a more accessible, pedestrian-friendly city. In 2023, 150,000 square metres of space was pedestrianised in three main squares, and more bike lanes are under construction to augment the existing 200km. Further expansion is planned for the verdant Turia Garden – meandering 9km through the city, it’s already the longest urban park in Europe. visitvalencia.com/en/ sustainable-tourism

RIMINI, EMILIA-ROMAGNA ITALY

SCOTLAND

With plenty of inspiring projects across the country, Scotland has what it takes to become a world leader in sustainable travel. VisitScotland has created a stepby-step guide to help local businesses launch climate action plans, and has built a carbon calculator to help travellers understand the different impacts of various travel choices. The promotion of public transport has seen the number of family rail journeys rise by

True to the spirit of this laid-back resort town, which is known for its long beaches and shallow waters, the new park integrates small community squares with the aim of promoting convivial socialising – like openair lounges overlooking the Adriatic Sea. In addition, the most significant sewerage system modernisation project underway in Italy will be completed soon, making the waters off Rimini the cleanest, safest and most controlled in the country.

VIENNA AUSTRIA

It’s easy to choose greener transit options in Vienna – just as locals do: 50% of residents already opt to use bikes or public transport for daily activities. And no wonder:Vienna’s transport network is one of the most efficient in the world.The city is also introducing traffic-calming measures and aims to increase the proportion of daily journeys made on foot, by bike or on public transport

The seaside town of Rimini is removing 16km of asphalt – transforming that stretch of former road into a vast, climate-resilient urban green space called Parco del Mare (Sea Park). With many sections of the project already complete, locals and visitors can walk and cycle among native Mediterranean dune vegetation, moving through green spaces, fitness areas and playgrounds designed to evoke the movement of sea life.

44% between 2022 and 2023. VisitScotland has also reduced its own CO2 emissions by 72% between 2008 and 2019 through a wide variety of actions – from upgrading windows and insulation in tourist information centres to reducing business travel. As of 2023, all of VisitScotland’s information centres and local offices had achieved the Gold Award from Green Tourism. visitscotland.com/travel-planning/responsible-tourism

Alamy

ANDROS GREECE

In summer, when tourist numbers soar across the Cyclades, the archipelago’s infrastructure faces immense challenges – there are simply more people arriving than these relatively small islands can handle. On Andros, waste output outstrips processing capacity, a situation exacerbated by proliferating single-use plastics. Thankfully, local organisations have leaped into action. Clean Green Andros is a volunteer-run initiative working to improve waste management, conservation

and education. It leads regular rubbish clean-ups, and has created a directory explaining how to properly dispose of any item of waste on the island. Since 2012, volunteers have restored and signposted 240km of paths, including the Andros Route – a 100km trail taking walkers along the length of the island, helping to increase its appeal as a destination for hiking and nature-focused holidays. cleangreenandros.org/en/a-to-z-of-waste; androsroutes.gr

LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARK ESTONIA

In 2020, the communities in and around Estonia’s oldest and largest national park – founded in 1971, and encompassing nearly 75,000 hectares some 50km east of Tallinn – created the Lahemaa Tourism Association, an NGO that sets residents, local entrepreneurs and government on an even footing for tourism planning. Enthusiasm for the project is evident among the area’s sparse but engaged population of around 3,600 residents living in about 70 villages. One result has been a push to train local people as tour guides introducing visitors to the park’s native forests, wetlands and waters – and the diverse flora and wildlife they harbour. So far, 75 guides have been trained through the sustainability-focused programme. Previously, guides came from outside the area; now locals are gaining second jobs, and tourists enjoy hearing authentic stories from the area as well as experiencing the benefits of real local knowledge. During the summer, local students manage a mobile café at Loksa bus station, where visitors can find information, bike rental and advice on public transport. The association says its goal is not to raise tourist numbers –currently around 200,000 per year – but to help those who do visit appreciate the area’s natural and cultural heritage. visitlahemaa.com/en

GERMANY

The amount of CO2 emitted for each euro generated by tourism in Germany dropped by 35% between 2010 and 2021. This reflects an enduring ethos that we’d now call sustainability. Juist Island in the Wadden Sea, known for its long, white-sand beaches, is one example: on this resolutely car-free island, visitors and locals have always travelled by horse-drawn carriage, bicycle, foot or, more recently, pedal car. Elsewhere, the village of Feldheim – two hours south-west of Berlin by public transport – began its journey to energy selfsufficiency in the mid-90s. It started with a student’s vision of installing four wind turbines, which have since multiplied to around 55 – about one turbine for every two residents. Some 31% of Germany’s electricity was generated by wind in 2023, but Feldheim remains the only settlement to be self-sufficient for energy, with its own grid for heating and electricity. The village also has solar panels and a battery system to store energy for when weather doesn’t permit production. Travellers can learn about the system at an old farmhouse converted into an energy forum, which offers guided tours and presentations about sustainable electricity generation. juist.de/en; nef-feldheim.info/?lang=en

to 80% by 2025. In 2024, some 20km of bike lanes will be added to the existing 1,721km of cycle routes around the city. And in 2025, a 6km-long ‘Climate Highway’ project will start, building a continuous cycling route where a motorway was originally planned.

Efforts to boost sustainability aren’t confined to transport. The renovated Wien Museum, which reopened in December 2023, features a solar panel installation on its green roof, and uses geothermal energy for climate control. Following examples set by British national museums, it’s also the first public museum in Austria to offer free entrance to its permanent exhibit for all visitors. wien.info/en/livable-vienna/sports/ cycling; wienmuseum.at/en

EMILIA-ROMAGNA ITALY

If you’re keen to explore Italy’s verdant spine on two wheels, try the 126km Romagna Toscana Cycle Route winding across the Apennines through Emilia-

Romagna and Tuscany. Around one-third of the route was damaged during extreme flooding in May 2023, but it’s now fully reopened. Restoration was very much a community effort undertaken rapidly because the trail, which connects with an extensive network of bike routes throughout Italy, is used by locals on a daily basis.

That enthusiasm for cycling in Italy isn’t limited to locals and tourists, though – and this year, you won’t be pedalling alone. On 29 June, the Tour de France will set off from Florence – the first time Italy has hosted the Grand Départ – before passing through Emilia-Romagna. romagnatoscanaturismo. it/en/news/cycle-route-of-romagna-tuscany ⊲

North America & the Caribbean

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI USA

There aren’t many destinations in the US Midwest where visitors could hope to get around without renting a car, but Kansas City is one.The free KC Streetcar connects popular neighbourhoods, downtown venues and some 6,000 hotel rooms along the 3.2km-long Streetcar route – and two extensions are now under construction.

One of the biggest venues on the extended line is also shattering glass ceilings.The world’s first stadium purpose-built for a women’s professional sports team, the CPKC Stadium features 180 solar panels and is pursuing LEED Gold certification. Thanks to a partnership with Bold Reuse, a women-owned company, no single-use plastic bottles or cups will be served in the stadium – only reusable or recyclable ones.

The new terminal at Kansas City International Airport, opened in 2023, was also designed with sustainability

and accessibility in mind. It’s the first such project in the Midwest to achieve LEED Gold certification (only the second in the USA), as well as boasting gender-neutral bathrooms, local eating and shopping outlets, a visual paging system to alert deaf travellers to flight changes, and a simulator in which travellers can walk through the entire airport experience, helping minimise pre-departure anxiety. kcstreetcar.org; cpkcstadium.com; flykc.com

CALGARY, ALBERTA CANADA

Declared the Canadian city with the largest ecological footprint in 2005, Calgary has since taken many steps to improve. Its per capita carbon emissions have decreased by 27% as the city’s population soared 58% –a welcome decoupling of population growth from carbon emissions.

The city’s CTrain is the only light rail system in North America powered by 100% wind-generated electricity. Calgary is also home to the most extensive urban pathway system in North America, stretching some 1,000km.

The iconic Calgary Stampede venue has also stepped up its sustainability efforts. Bat houses have been installed to create an eco-friendly mosquito-control system, and

COLORADO USA

With its sunny but breezy climate, it’s no wonder Colorado generates over one-third of its electricity from renewable sources. With that push for sustainable energy, and the rise of organic and sustainable dining in cities such as Boulder – a US pioneer of farm-to-table eating – there’s plenty here to lure conscious travellers. There are diverse ways you can help nature while exploring it, too. Hikes with the Walking Mountains Science Center, and multi-day trekking and packrafting trips with Rewilding Expeditions, blend outdoor escapes with environmental education or conservation. For more straight-up voluntourism, join a session with the Rocky Mountain Field Institute or the Wildlands Restoration Volunteers to help clear trails, pick up rubbish or build steps and walls to restore the landscape and help others enjoy it. walkingmountains.org; rewildingexpeditions.org; rmfi.org; wrv.org

the Stampede also donates more than 100,000 meals to local people in need each year. Many tonnes of used cooking oil are recycled to create biofuel, too, and horse droppings are sent to a tree farm for use as fertiliser.

FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE USA

Tennessee’s first LEED Silver-certified city remains one of only 10 such destinations worldwide. Franklin also boasts multiple LEED-certified hotels and historic restoration initiatives.

One particularly innovative project was the construction of Franklin’s newest music venue, the 7,500-capacity FirstBank Amphitheater, built into a former quarry. Roads to the amphitheatre were built using 900 tonnes of junk – years’ worth of material illegally dumped in the abandoned quarry – and construction involved cleaning up polluted ponds and trails.The amphitheatre

ARIZONA USA

In response to the widespread surge of interest in outdoor activities in 2020, the Arizona Office of Tourism rapidly launched AppreciateAZ. This programme, designed in collaboration with Leave No Trace, promotes responsible outdoor travel – and with more than 90% of such recreation occurring in easily accessible areas visited by day users, the need was clear. AppreciateAZ helps visitors understand the importance of key principles such as sticking to designated trails, following the ‘pack it in, pack it out’ rule for rubbish (including organic waste), keeping a respectful distance from wildlife, and not collecting ‘souvenirs’ – not even pebbles or flowers. In addition to resources for travellers, the programme provides training for local businesses and spreads the word through billboards, children’s videos, digital and social media that were seen tens of millions of times within the first two years of the campaign. These concepts are the bedrocks of sustainable nature-based tourism, so we love to see them being promoted so ambitiously, helping preserve iconic natural spaces that are welcoming ever more visitors. tourism.az.gov/appreciateaz; lnt.org

itself is a plastic-free and zero-landfill facility: all drinks are served in infinitely recyclable aluminium, and food is served in compostable packaging with plant-based utensils that are composted on-site. firstbankamphitheater.com/sustainability

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA USA

Reducing food miles is second nature in this sun-kissed stretch of California’s Central Coast, blessed by long strands of sandy shoreline and lush fields. A year-round growing season and vast swathes of agricultural land and vineyards bolster a strong farm-totable dining ethos epitomised by restaurants such as Paso Robles’Thomas Hill Organics. Weekly farmers’ markets offer opportunities to sample the produce of small, family-run farms and artisans. Most exciting are those businesses built on regenerative initiatives – for example, Kelpful, which runs foraging adventures along the coast, turning the

collected seaweed into gifts and condiments. Another gem is Re:Find Distillery, also in Paso Robles, offering tastings of sustainable spirits made from grape juice discarded during the winemaking process. thomashill organics.com; kelpful.com; refinddistillery.com

CAYMAN ISLANDS

Boasting 365 dive sites equipped with moorings – so that boat don’t need to drop anchor, risking damaging coral reefs – and home to more endemic plant species than the Galápagos Islands, the Cayman Islands is all about nature and conservation.

The Blue Iguana Conservation project in Grand Cayman, largest of the three islands, has worked for more than 30 years to protect the territory’s largest land animal. Formerly listed as critically endangered, with fewer than 30 individuals estimated to survive in the wild in 2001, the species is now recovering: in

2018, the 1,000th blue iguana was released into the wild; more than 1,400 of these creatures are now living free in Grand Cayman thanks to the project’s efforts.Visitors can take an in-depth tour of the facility or even volunteer (for a minimum of two weeks). Last year, Little Cayman’s Marine Parks and Protected Areas were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list, recognising efforts to protect spawning sites of the endangered Nassau grouper. nationaltrust.org.ky/our-work/conservation/ blue-iguana-conservation ⊲

SAN JUAN ISLANDS, WASHINGTON USA

BERMUDA

Sometimes serious environment problems have unexpectedly simple solutions. In Bermuda, one such creative response is food – specifically, lionfish chowder. Native to the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, over the past four decades the strikingly striped lionfish has become an invasive species in the Atlantic, including the waters around Bermuda. Though relatively slow-moving, lionfish are aggressive hunters with no natural predators in the region – and, as a result, they have major impacts on native fish species and, as a knock-on effect, coral reefs. Bermuda is one of many destinations teaching locals to hunt these invasive fish with spears, avoiding the predators’ flared dorsal fins equipped with venomous spines.

A peaceful bolthole for Seattle residents for much of the year, this archipelago receives very different visitors between May and October – orca, humpbacks and minke whales. Perhaps the most prized sightings are of the three endangered Southern Resident orca pods, designated J, K and L. These charismatic cetaceans dine almost exclusively on salmon, and are foraging ever further afield in response to dwindling local stocks. So in 2015 whalewatching operators San Juan Safaris and San Juan Island Outfitters launched a Conservation Fund, donating a proportion of each tour fee to organisations researching whale and salmon conservation – over £150,000 so far. Joyfully, you can help conserve these spectacular predators simply by seeing them in the wild. sanjuansafaris.com; sanjuanislandoutfitters.com

In March, the second Eat’Um to Beat’Um Lionfish Chowder Competition at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo attracted entries from eight local restaurants and chefs. But you can try lionfish in the islands at other times: restaurants where you might find this new delicacy include Wahoo’s Bistro & Patio in St George’s and Barracuda Grill in Hamilton.

PUERTO RICO

Some of Puerto Rico’s most notable sustainable tourism initiatives have sprouted up inland, away from the island’s famous white sand beaches. ElYunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest system, is just 25km south-east of the capital, San Juan. ElYunque occupies just over 1% of Puerto Rico’s land, but provides nearly 20% of its fresh water, and helps regulate climate conditions and absorb impacts from major storms.

Maria temporarily disrupted supply chains in 2017, many Puerto Ricans turned the disaster into an opportunity, taking advantage of fertile soil to produce more sustainably grown ingredients – for example, at El Pretexto, an innovative culinary farm lodge. amigosdelyunque.org; elpretextopr.com

NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA USA

Guests staying in two Wyndham resorts near ElYunque can now donate $1 per night to the Fundación Amigos de ElYunque (Friends of El Yunque Foundation) to support conservation efforts in the forest. The organisation is working with other accommodation options with a view to extending this opportunity and gathering even more funds for conservation in this beautiful and important habitat.

The island’s farm-to-table eating scene is flourishing, too. Puerto Rico imports around 85% of its food – but since Hurricane

California’s famed Napa Valley is home to hundreds of vineyards and wineries – estimates vary, though 475 is a widely cited figure – but only 16 have achieved Napa Green’s Gold Level certification, a comprehensive, locally run certification programme and sustainability resource for the valley’s wine industry. Its 90 certified wineries and 31 certified vineyards have implemented more than 120 social and ecological standards, from recycling, composting and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (through farming practices such as using carbon-capturing biochar to enhance soil fertility) to commitments on social equity and inclusion.

Meanwhile, those that have achieved the Gold Level certification are the best of the best, using absolutely no herbicides or bee-killing neonicotinoids. Among these, Tres Sabores is not only beloved of one of our editors for its low-key, friendly atmosphere, accessible prices and outstanding reds, but also notable as one of the very few wineries in the area founded and owned by napagreen.org; tressabores.com or our editors for its atmoswineries in the area founded and owned a woman. napagreen.org; tressabores.com Alamy;

Latin America

BELIZE

Forest covers perhaps 60% of Belize’s land area, so nature tourism represents an important way to help safeguard the future of its ecosystems. And conservation work is already being undertaken on a large scale – such as efforts to secure the Maya Forest Corridor.This is a swathe of jungle in central Belize that, when acquired, would link the biodiverse Maya Mountains with the vast Maya Forest straddling the borders with Mexico and Guatemala – creating the largest stretch of contiguous forest in Central America.

Also important are smaller projects such as the NGO-run ecolodge La Milpa in the north-west, which channels profits into combatting illegal logging in the area. Another encouraging trend is the growth of community-based tourism, which is helping to spread the impacts of visitors as well as

bringing tourism income to communities who previously received little. Examples include the Garifuna Cultural Trail, introducing that community around Dangriga and Hopkins, and the Living Maya Experience, through which guests can experience life in Big Falls village, discovering the traditions of an ancient culture at risk of disappearing. pfbelize.org

COLOMBIA

In a country where women’s involvement in the economy is still largely limited, the Tú Mujer (You Woman) programme is challenging traditional gender roles by lending support to female entrepreneurs in tourism.

This support is both unique and essential. Since it launched in 2022, the initiative has provided training and resources to more than

ECUADOR

Understandably, the wildlife wonderland of the Galápagos represents the most alluring destination for most tourists visiting Ecuador, and the mainland remains underappreciated. Now a renewed focus on community tourism aims to open up a range of experiences across the country, many involving its 14 Indigenous peoples. Already, more than 400 communities are represented by the Multinational Federation of Community Tourism in Ecuador, providing not only a source of income but also the chance to tell their own stories. Sinchi Warmi, for example, was established by female Kichwa artisans who’d been denied work opportunities. After ten years’ dedicated effort, they opened a lodge and community tourism centre at Misahuallí on the Napo River in the Amazon, offering stays, volunteer opportunities and workshops. ⊲

10,000 women. Education, career advancement and family planning for women and girls are important tools in the fight against climate change, so this provides not only social benefits to Colombian families but also environmental benefits for the world. This strategic approach from the Colombian government demonstrates a refreshing commitment to promoting female leadership

and creating new economic opportunities in communities.

COSTA RICA

This recognised leader in sustainability and ecotourism makes its second appearance on our Green List this year. Home to over 5% of the world’s biodiversity, it continues to push new ways of protecting these species.

In 2023, researchers counted 2,121 scarlet macaws in La Cangreja National Park – a promising rise from 978 in 2020.Though this spectacular bird is not endangered, conservation authorities say that efforts to

help the macaw indirectly protect numerous other species sharing the same habitat.

Over the next three years, Costa Rica will invest $4.5 million (around £3.6 million) in improving infrastructure and tourism facilities at seven of the most visited national parks – including new trails, conservation initiatives, improved visitor centres and the promotion of sustainable tourism practices.

In late 2023, the maximum stay for visitors on the tourist visa waiver scheme doubled to 180 days – boosting Costa Rica's appeal to digital nomads, retirees and those looking to experience truly slow travel.

BRAZIL

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon decreased by 22% in the year ending July 2023 – a big drop from the previous 12-month period. It's a relatively small win in a big battle – but one in which tourism is starting to play a significant role, particularly through community tourism. In offering alternative sources of income to Indigenous communities and to people who otherwise engage in habitat-damaging activities in an effort to survive, this model offers a way to empower locals and engage visitors in the struggle. Pousada do Garrido, a

community enterprise lodge on the banks of the Rio Negro, was cited at last year’s World Economic Forum as a shining example of the impacts of small-scale projects, creating 18 jobs in an area where the logging industry is a major employer. Another paragon is tour operator Vivalá, which offers stays and visits to communities such as a Kariri-Xocó village on the edge of the Atlantic Forest and a Shanenawa community deep in the Amazon. Such tours help preserve ancient traditions and knowledge that has long helped protect these forests. vivala.com.br/en

PANAMA

Often overshadowed by its much-lauded neighbour to the west, Costa Rica, Panama has been making quiet strides in sustainable tourism. A big boost came with the launch a couple of years back of the SOSTUR network, connecting travellers with rural and community-based tourism experiences often in remote, little-visited corners of the country. These channel money into small and Indigenous communities, as well as focusing attention on conservation efforts. In mountainous Chiriquí Province, for example, the Jurutungo community offers opportunities to join a local environmental organisation on guided hikes and tours of UNESCO-listed La Amistad International Park – a transboundary tropical forest that's home to jaguars, tapirs and 600-plus bird species. Or visit Mata Oscura in Veraguas province to assist a turtle-release project and participate in local workshops, cookery classes and day-to-day life in the village.

Middle East

THE RED SEA SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi’s Red Sea Global development is among the most ambitious projects in a country that’s never afraid to dream big when it comes to tourism. Eyebrows might

be raised at the impact of building 50 resorts along the west coast by 2030, but such is the scale of this 28,000 sq km project that these occupy a tiny fraction (1%) of the total area undergoing regeneration. Much of the 200km of shoreline, 90 islands and one of the world’s longest barrier reef systems will be reserved for low-impact adventures and conservation. Many of the corals fringing the

shoreline have proved to be resistant to the damaging effects of high sea temperatures, so the project is monitoring these and breeding corals for potential relocation to less-hardy reefs. In addition, around 1 million mangrove seedlings have so far been planted, nurturing a resource that could sequester proportionately four times more carbon than any rainforest. redseaglobal.com

Coral conservation

Initiatives around the world are helping protect reefs hit by climate change and other threats

MOLINERE UNDERWATER SCULPTURE PARK

An internationally renowned exemplar of both art and conservation, the recently expanded Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park now features some 100 works scattered over an 800-square-metre swathe of the Caribbean seabed. Created by artist Jason deCaires Taylor in 2006, two years after Hurricane Ivan devastated the area, the park was augmented last year with the addition of around 30 new figures. Travellers can admire these pieces by scuba-diving among them, snorkelling above them or gazing down from a glass-bottomed boat. Gradually colonised by corals, the figures also draw divers and snorkellers away from fragile natural reefs nearby. A second submarine sculpture park is planned for the nearby island of Carriacou.

GRENADA ARTIFICIAL REEF PROJECT

Founded in 2013 by Grenada’s dive community, this

project installs pyramid-shaped artificial reefs made from breezeblocks on barren patches of the sea floor, aiming to counter the impacts of climate change, storm damage and overfishing.Around 80 pyramids were in place last year, hosting 14 species of coral. Lying just off Grand Anse Beath, they’re easy to reach by snorkelling from the shore.

Volunteers help out by counting species, cleaning and maintain the pyramids, and transplanting coral. Visitors – including children as young as 10 – can take part, either snorkelling or scuba-diving, with sessions typically running between May and December. grenadaartificialreef.com

GRENADA CORAL REEF FOUNDATION

This charity works with Grenadian communities, providing education for budding marine biologists as well as establishing and maintaining coral nurseries, undertaking restoration work and research projects, and offering courses on reef restoration and the use of artificial reef technologies. Both locals and scuba-qualified tourists are welcome to volunteer. grenadacoralreef.org

REEF CONSERVATION IN NORTH QUEENSLAND

The Forever Reef Project in north-east Australia is the world’s first living coral biobank, collecting a specimen of each of the planet’s coral species for a ‘coral ark’ that can be used to repopulate reefs in the future – an insurance policy in the face of rising ocean temperatures and coral bleaching events. So far, 179 of the Great Barrier Reef’s 415 hard coral species have been collected. foreverreef.org

Locally owned tour operator Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel offers Reef Recovery Days on which science-minded travellers help marine biologists attach coral fragments to Reef Stars, aiding regeneration. Cultural guides are on hand to give insights into the region’s 60,000 years of traditional ecological reef management. dreamtimedive.com/reef-recovery-day

Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef recruits armchair scientists across the world to identify corals in tens of thousands of images, informing the work of scientists and reef managers. greatreefcensus.org

CENTRAL CARIBBEAN MARINE INSTITUTE CAYMAN ISLANDS

The long-established Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) studies the reef system of Little Cayman to learn how corals can rebound from and become more resilient to stress. This research is possible because this reef remains relatively healthy, thanks to the island’s small human population, the absence of commercial fishing, and successful conservation efforts and government initiatives protecting key reef species such as Nassau grouper and the wider ecosystem.

CCMI is working to improve coral restoration techniques; better understand how depth, heat and disease affect coral reef resilience; and use DNA testing to identify the most resilient corals. Visitors can tour the institute, and qualified divers are welcome to help with data collection such as counting and photographing coral.

You can discover more from the comfort of your own home, too –underwater talks by CCMI scientists are live-streamed on YouTube. reefresearch. org/what-we-do/research/healthy-reefs

THE RED SEA SAUDI ARABIA

As part of the wider The Red Sea project, AI is being employed in the preservation and protection of one of the world’s largest coral reef systems. Using AI robotics, scientists are monitoring more than 300 coral sites – and analysing them 92% faster than would otherwise be possible. The discovery of new corals able to survive rising sea temperatures is paving the way for preservation and restoration locally, as well as in other regions around the globe.

CORAL GARDENERS FRENCH POLYNESIA

SUNLIFE CORAL RESTORATION MAURITIUS

Sunlife, a small group of five sustainably designed luxury resorts in Mauritius, has launched coral restoration projects at its Long Beach and La Pirogue properties, offering hands-on environmental education programming for kids and adults.

EMBRATUR BRAZIL

Not all sustainability efforts made by the tourism industry are visible to the public –so we want to showcase a policy introduced by Embratur, the national tourism board of Brazil, that we’d love to see embraced more widely – giving non-material gifts at international events. Instead of a swag bag containing, say, a pen, notepad or flash drive, visitors to Brazil’s trade-show booths are given certificates declaring the recipient a ‘coral reef tutor’, sponsoring the regrowth of a broken piece of coral. Fragments of reef are nurtured before being replanted onto the barrier reef on the Brazilian coast, part of a partnership with a local start-up, authorities, fisherfolk and their families. By the end of 2024, it’s anticipated that 800 corals will have been transplanted back into the reef off Porto de Galinhas, 60km south of Recife.

Perfect for encouraging kids of all ages to engage with conservation, Coral Gardeners’ Adopt-A-Coral programme allows you to sponsor the rehabilitation of a fragment of a species of climate-resilient coral.After naming your baby coral, you’ll receive a digital card and real-time email updates on its progress in the nursery before it’s transplanted out on a reef. Since its 2017 launch on Mo'orea, nearTahiti, more than 100,000 coral specimens have been planted on 11 reefs – 69,890 in 2023 alone – with a 82% survival rate. Also in 2023, Coral Gardeners opened its first international branch in Fiji, employing five Fijian gardeners – and has already planted more than 11,000 corals. Importantly, local tribal leaders have given their permission and blessing to the project. coralgardeners. org/products/adopt-a-coral

La Pirogue Marine Research Center uses a micro-fragmenting technique to encourage quicker growth of new coral in its land-based nursery for transplanting back onto the reef. The results show corals healing 25 to 40 times faster than they would naturally on the reef and more than 2,000 fragments have been replanted since 2020. Guests can also learn about coral and other marine life, and contribute to the reef through Sunlife’s ‘adopt a coral’ initiative.

CHEMICAL SUNSCREEN BANS VARIOUS, WORLDWIDE

Many sunscreens contain ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate that are toxic to the corals, plants and fish we love to admire on snorkelling forays. Unfortunately, ‘reef safe’ labelling isn’t regulated, so it’s critical to read the ingredients list before buying your sunscreen. The sale (and, in some cases, use) of sunscreens containing such chemicals has been banned in destinations including Palau, Hawaii, Aruba, Bonaire, the US Virgin Islands and ecotourism reserves in Mexico. To choose reef-safe sunscreens, look for non-nano mineral-based products containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide – they’re good for sensitive skin, too.

CELEBRATE LOCAL ACHIEVEMENTS WITH WILD FRONTIERS

In an era when there are more ways than ever to make a positive difference while travelling, there are few excuses for merely lounging in a hammock – especially when you could help make your own, alongside people with hearing disabilities.This meet-the-changemakers ethos is encapsulated byWild Frontiers’ Adventures with Purpose tailormade trips.These include elements of charitable, wildlife and community-driven tourism, from visiting a non-profit Cambodian circus founded by refugees to staying at a community-run mountain camp in Namibia or taking part in a hammock workshop in Nicaragua.The company donates some of its profits to selected initiatives through the Wild Frontiers Foundation – and you can visit these projects on your travels. wildfrontierstravel.com

CUT YOUR CARBON WITH BYWAY

Travelling overland produces 80% to 90% less carbon emissions than short-haul flights – so one small UK company is on a mission to make flight-free travel mainstream. Byway creates custom holidays that utilise rail, ferry and bus to explore diverse European countries, optimising routes for enjoyment (and climate) rather than speed, and handling the complex task of planning multi-country overland trips so you don’t have to. Itineraries are also designed to support local economies and reduce overtourism by minimising time spent in honey-pot destinations, instead featuring lesser-known but equally alluring places. Last year, Byway also launched a carbon-labelling feature, so you can see the carbon you’ve saved by travelling overland compared with flying – helping reinforce just how significantly individual actions can add up. byway.travel

Tour operators making a difference

Meet the operators not only doing their part for the planet but also making your sustainable travel dreams a reality

EMBRACE SCIENCE WITH EXODUS ADVENTURE TRAVELS

For those wanting to get more hands-on with understanding and conserving global biodiversity, one concept really stands out: the citizen-science expedition. Exodus AdventureTravels has launched Citizen Science departures on many of its tours, collecting eDNA samples from freshwater sites in destinations as diverse as the Baltics and Botswana. At the end of each trip the results are not only relayed to you, explaining which species have been detected, but also contribute to a worldwide eBioAtlas helping conservationists build a better picture of the planet’s biodiversity. It’s all part of Exodus’ ‘nature first’ approach, which includes a pledge to rewild 100 square metres in Italy’s Apennine Mountains for every traveller who books with the company. exodus.co.uk

CLEARER CHOICES WITH AUDLEY TRAVEL

In the past, the onus has been on travellers to ask tour operators to show how their trips are sustainable; now, at last, some are pre-empting that question. The launch of Audley Travel’s Responsible Choice classification system is a great example. It’s designed to make it easier for travellers to choose hotels, businesses and experiences that place a greater emphasis on environmental sustainability and supporting communities – such as a Patagonian hotel that’s created a conservation reserve.Thanks to this helpful label, it’s easy to pick options that support local businesses, educate staff, and promote conservation and biodiversity efforts.The collection is growing fast: by the end of 2024, Audley aims to have identified nearly 500 Responsible Choice providers. audleytravel.com

KEEP IT LOCAL WITH ATI HOLIDAYS

Money spent by travellers can benefit communities that welcome them – unless it’s diverted away, as too often happens. How can you be sure your cash stays local? Community-based tourism is one option; another is to choose an operator employing local people. All 24 staff members at ATI Holidays in Namibia, for example, are Namibian residents – 19 of them previously disadvantaged – and receive medical aid cover and other benefits. By recruiting and training people from areas short on resources or opportunities, the company helps them to support themselves and their dependants, empowering the wider community. Since the start of 2023, the company’s Future Namibia Fund has donated some NAD100,000 (over £4,000) to partner charities, from a primary school to lion and giraffe conservation projects. ati-holidays.com

LEARN FROM INDIGENOUS EXPERIENCES WITH GIRRI GIRRA

As few as 1% of all enterprises in Australia are owned by First Nations people, according to 2021 figures.Thankfully, this proportion is growing rapidly, and Indigenous-owned tourism businesses are increasingly receiving greater prominence and support. Importantly, the travel industry has ample potential to provide both employment for under-served communities and a way to protect First Nations heritage, traditions and values. Aboriginal-owned Girri Girra is among a wave of operators helping preserve the stories and cultures of Australia’sTraditional Owners. Its tours, led entirely by Aboriginal guides, recount the 65,000-year-old history of New South Wales’ Central Coast, using sites such as the rock carvings of Bouddi National Park to explore the spiritual importance of the land. girrigirra.com.au

GO ELECTRIC WITH INTREPID

Partnering with non-profit organisations is a great way for tour operators to increase their positive impacts in destinations they explore. Showcasing such initiatives can also provide unforgettable experiences for travellers – for example, buzzing between Jaipur’s rose-hued palaces in a similarly rubicund electric rickshaw. Intrepid has partnered with the Indian NGO behind the Pink City Rickshaw Company, which provides employment to some 200 women from low-income households, training them in a profession traditionally reserved for men, and funding a similar scheme to launch soon in Varanasi.Together with Intrepid’s carbon-labelling scheme, rating the emissions of 500-plus itineraries, such initiatives provide evidence of the potential travel has to creative positive impacts in the places we visit. intrepidtravel.com

DITCH THE CAR WITH HF HOLIDAYS

JOIN A NEW KIND OF CRUISE WITH HX (HURTIGRUTEN EXPEDITIONS)

A 2021 study suggested that the carbon footprint of a large cruise ship can be bigger than that of 12,000 cars. Recognising the industry’s environmental impact, some operators are rethinking how they work. Among those taking the lead is HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions), whose parent company has been responsible for a number of firsts, from banning the use of heavy fuel oils – major emitters of pollutant gases – in 2009, to removing all unnecessary single-use plastic in its fleet. It also launched hybrid-powered expedition cruise ships, paving the way for the first fully electric vessels, planned for launch by 2030.With batteries that can be charged in ports where renewables account for much of the supply (98% in Norway, for example), HX is taking major steps towards the first zero-emission cruise. hurtigruten.com/expeditions

SLOW DOWN WITH EXPLORE WORLDWIDE

In 2022, Explore joined a growing number of tour operators in auditing the carbon footprint of its trips and business operations. Importantly, it used this information to reduce emissions still further – reworking existing itineraries by swapping flights for less-polluting forms of transport, designing new trips and scrapping tours with high emissions that couldn’t be cut or justified. Many tours in the remodelled line-up epitomise the joys of slow travel: the newTaste of Southern France itinerary, for example, sampling the caves, castles and wineries between Bordeaux andToulouse on local transport. As a result of such efforts, Explore cut emissions from its trips by 7.2% per person, per night in the first year of this work, and aims to halve them by 2030. explore.co.uk

Transport – flights, buses and so on – comprises nearly 50% of the carbon footprint of global tourism, according to one recent study.To address this, HF Holidays has explored innovative ways to reduce such impacts – it’s been offering train trips to Europe since 1914, and has an enticing roster of Rail Adventures. But the company’s Tread Lightly escapes – a series of UK-based guided walking tours – go several steps further, removing the need for transport altogether during each break.Whether strolling the grassy hills of Shropshire or the paths of the Peak District, each day’s walking starts and finishes at your country house base where you’ll dine on dishes showcasing the best of local produce – all without a car or coach transfer in sight. hfholidays.co.uk

Alamy; Shutterstock; Oscar Farrera

COUNT THE COST WITH PURA AVENTURA

To deal with the pollution caused by travel, first you have to know the scale of the problem. In 2021, Pura Aventura staked its claim to be the first UK tour operator to publish the total carbon footprint of all of its trips. And with itsTravel Positive Charter, it has pledged to offset 160% of transport emissions (road, air, boat) for every trip, whether or not a customer booked outbound travel through them. How? It’s partnered with Taking Root, a Nicaraguan non-profit that’s planted 8 million trees so far, and which works with local farmers to ensure these trees are safeguarded. Pura Aventura also commits 1% of its revenue to environmental causes, setting an impressive standard. pura-aventura.com

SUNSAIL AND THE MOORINGS

The environmental impact of cruises is of growing concern for travellers, so it’s no surprise many are turning to sailing trips to minimise emissions. Even these aren’t always totally eco-friendly, though, particularly when petrol motors or generators are called into action. Sailing tour operators Sunsail andThe Moorings have begun replacing their vessels’ outboard motors with electric alternatives – saving an estimated 7,273L of fossil fuel in 2023. And by fitting onboard water purifiers and increasing the generation of solar-powered electricity on boats used for skippered and bareboat yacht and catamaran trips, they’re reducing environmental impacts still further. sunsail.com; moorings.com

BE INSPIRED WITH JOURNEY LATIN AMERICA

Responsible travel isn’t just about lowering carbon emissions– it also means ensuring that small communities, which hold the key to safeguarding their local environments, reap the benefits of tourism. Journey Latin America supports a wide variety of small community initiatives aimed at reducing economic disparity, many of which travellers can experience first-hand on its trips. From funding the painting of houses in a Guatemalan village on Lake Atitlán to visiting the Colombian barrio of Moravia – a former shanty town built on a landfill dump in Medellín – and meeting the people whose efforts transformed the neighbourhood, its tours offer something all too rare: a chance to make a difference alongside those whose actions have had tangible positive impacts on their communities. journeylatinamerica.com

HELP TACKLE OVERTOURISM WITH UNDISCOVERED BALKANS

As well as being a huge driver of pollution and littering, overtourism has a major impact on local quality of life. It’s an issue that Undiscovered Balkans is addressing by diverting travellers away from cities such as Dubrovnik in Croatia, which in 2019 received a staggering 36 tourists for every city resident.This operator’s e-biking, cycling and kayaking tours instead introduce visitors to more rural, less-trodden destinations across the region, bringing income to smaller communities that would otherwise see little footfall. For example, it championed multi-day tourism to villages around Lake Skadar, straddling the Albania-Montenegro border, where short stays were previously the norm – helping local businesses flourish. undiscoveredbalkans.com

Projects and transport

From championing new carbon-removal technologies to an innovative ski-gear rental enterprise offering an alternative to wasteful consumption, these initiatives span diverse categories – but share the crucial aim of making travel cleaner, fairer and more positive for all

Dismayed by the deluge of single-use coffee cups littering Killarney National Park, locals acted to tackle the problem. In summer 2023, the Killarney Coffee Cup Project was launched – a landmark initiative involving 25 independent coffee shops and 21 hotels working to create a lower-waste system. Residents and tourists alike now can enjoy takeaway drinks without the guilt thanks to a pioneering collaboration with 2GoCup. For a €2 deposit, you can get your drink served in a reusable cup, to be returned to any participating coffee shop. Just a year in, the initiative has kept more than 506,000 single-use cups from going to landfill or being discarded in the national park. Inspiringly, the project’s leaders are now working to spread the program across Ireland, starting in West Cork, Tullamore and parts of Wicklow. 2gocup.ie/killarney-cup-campaign-2

FLIXBUS – 100% ELECTRIC ROUTE

In June 2024, Flixbus will wrap up its pilot of the first 100% electric long-distance coach service in England and Wales, carrying travellers between London, Bristol and Newport (South Wales) on a 46-seat, wheelchair-accessible coach. On this route, the fully electric coach will save 352kg of carbon emissions per day compared with the average diesel-fuelled coach – also slashing emissions of other air pollutants, of course – making coach travel, already a much more sustainable choice than cars or flying, greener still. We hope that this fully electric route will become permanent – and that it will be followed by many more. flixbus.co.uk/company/sustainability

The Wild Center –New York State, USA

The story of climate change is often told in a global context – a scale that can be hard to comprehend and easy to ignore.That’s not the case atTheWild Center, a science museum and accessible outdoor adventure hub in a littleknown spot: a small, working-class town in Adirondack Park – a 2.4-million-hectare wilderness around 400km north of NewYork City. Here, the problem is explored in a more immediate, local context in terms of both impact and achievable solutions – an approach exemplified in its new interactive Climate Solutions Exhibit. Built with recycled and repurposed materials, the exhibit highlights the successes of local regenerative farming practices, building renovations and indigenous seed-saving techniques among dozens of other inspiring stories.

Working with local indigenous artists and organisations, the Center has also reinterpreted some long-standing displays to decolonise the presentation of science, giving native perspectives a much-deserved platform. wildcenter.org; wildclimatesolutions.com

KILLARNEY COFFEE CUP PROJECT Ketti Wilhelm; Shutterstock; Selby Gardens; Ryan Gamma Photography

MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS –SARASOTA, FLORIDA, USA

The world’s first net-positive energy botanical garden complex opened in January 2024 in a historic, white-columned house on Florida’s coast on the Gulf of Mexico. This cutting-edge upgrade comes as the Marie Selby –one of the most biodiverse botanical gardens in the world, dedicated to the display and study of tropical plants –celebrates its 50th anniversary.

The new complex, part of an ambitious Campus Master Plan, includes a storm-water management system to clean millions of litres of water each year, a 4,600-square-metre solar array, and a hurricane-resilient structure to safeguard irreplaceable scientific resources – at the same time giving the public insights into once-secret research.

Even the on-campus restaurant was no afterthought. The Green Orchid will be the world’s first net-positive energy restaurant. It also features a rooftop garden yielding fresh produce, planned, planted and maintained by Operation EcoVets, a non-profit providing personal, educational and professional growth opportunities for service veterans.

Jennifer O Rominiecki, president and CEO of the botanical gardens, remarked on the anniversary: “What better way to celebrate the last 50 years than by putting in the necessary infrastructure for the next 50?”We couldn’t agree more. selby.org

GREEN APPLE FOUNDATION –CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA

This not-for-profit social enterprise, founded by a female hotelier with a strong track record in sustainability (see our Green Sleeps section for Latin America), currently collects and recycles about 3% of the glass from businesses in Cartagena’s historic centre – but that figure is about to soar.

Over the past year, Green Apple Foundation has raised funds to build an industrial-scale recycling complex that will enable the operator to process 30% to 50% of the district’s glass, diverting up to 200 tonnes of waste that would otherwise go to landfill each month. Cutting-edge technology will pulverise the glass using vibrations and kinetic energy instead of sharp blades, making smoother, rounder glass sand, and resulting in a more efficient and sustainable system.

Crushing glass isn’t all Green Apple does. Since 2018, it’s worked with a small group of female artisans in a nearby village who craft glassware, lamps and souvenirs from discarded bottles. Participants also learn product design, budgeting and marketing. In 2023, Green Apple opened a permanent workshop. greenapplecartagena.com

British Airways

Decarbonising aviation presents a huge challenge – but one that aerospace engineers believe can be overcome. Hence British Airways has invested in numerous projects to develop Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technologies, which will be crucial if long-haul flights are to be made sustainable. In 2022, BA was the first airline to use SAF produced on a commercial scale in the UK, made from used cooking oil and piped to Heathrow Airport. Supply of cooking oil is limited, though, so BA is supporting development of SAF production using

other sources including forestry and orchard waste. The airline recently secured its first supply of e-SAF – synthetic jet fuel made from CO2, water and renewable energy – which could power aircraft as soon as 2025. This next-generation fuel could reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared with conventional jet fuel. BA used 50,000 tonnes of SAF in 2023 – a fivefold increase on 2022. Although only 1% of their total fuel usage, this augurs the kind of meaningful progress that we want to see across the industry.

THE LONG RUN

This membership community of nature-based tourism businesses is at the front line of conservation. The Long Run focuses on excellence in sustainability built around a framework of 4C’s – Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Members – including ecolodges, safari camps and private reserves – work towards certification as Global Ecosphere Retreats, one of the most rigorous sustainability standards in the tourism industry; many have already achieved this goal. Collectively, the members claim to conserve well over 9 million hectares of biodiverse habitat, and improve the lives of 750,000 local people.The network also includes partners such as tour operators and travel agents that support and promote members’ work. thelongrun.org

TOMORROW’S AIR

This organisation enables travellers to fund innovative solutions to the pressing problem of climate change through recurring donations that are decoupled from emissions measurement.This isn’t another way to offset for your own flight; instead, it’s a way to buy sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for a flight that will take off tomorrow, or fund the development of new kinds of carbon-removal technology.Though some existing carbon-removal technologies can store CO2 permanently or reduce emissions directly, their relatively high cost deters investment, which keeps the cost high –and so on. Find a directory of tour company partners and members discounts online. tomorrowsair. com/traveler-benefits

Cirkel Supply Co. –Switzerland

Not your average mountain outfitter, Cirkel delivers skiwear straight to accommodation in the Swiss Alps. Just choose your outfit online and it’ll be waiting for you in your chalet – and it’ll then be collected after you check out. Analysis of the company’s first seasons showed that this rental model resulted in a 76% reduction in CO2 emissions compared with the more-usual process – ski holidaymakers buying clothing that’s then used only once or twice a year. Enabling more people to enjoy using fewer products isn’t the end of Cirkel’s sustainability efforts. It sources high-quality items from responsible brands – no fast fashion. It uses reusable packaging and a local delivery company that uses train transport between hubs and, where possible, electric vehicles for the last leg. Cirkel also carefully repairs

Green sleeps

Places to stay worldwide are striving to support communities, conserve nature and reduce carbon footprints

Africa

House in the Wild Kenya

Working with Maasai to allow wildlife and livestock to thrive, this eight-room lodge on the Enonkishu Conservancy north of the Mara runs on 95% solar energy. collectioninthewild.com/stay

Earth Lodge

South Africa

This luxury lodge works with conservationists tackling controlled burning, invasive species management and poaching. An artificial wetland filters wastewater, and food waste is

of water towers, teacher accommodation and a community washing station. anabezi.com

Kyaninga Lodge Uganda

Built with sustainable wood and largely solar-powered, Kyaninga offers panoramic views over the Rwenzori Mountains. Its owners fund the Kyaninga Child Development Centre and Inclusive Model School for children with disabilities. kyaningalodge.com

Cheetah Plains

South Africa

This sleek luxury lodge operates entirely on solar power, and runs a fleet of electric safari vehicles. It’s funded a community crèche, providing employment for local caregivers and teachers, and caring for more than 60 children. cheetahplains.com

Asia

Jetwing Kaduruketha

Sri Lanka

repurposed as livestock feed or compost. sabisabi.com/lodges

Tembo Plains

Camp Zimbabwe

This low-impact luxury camp is set amid riverine forest beside the Zambezi. Rooms made of canvas and stone are naturally cool, and run on solar power. greatplainsconservation.com

Wilderness Damaraland Camp Namibia

Thatched suites amid dramatic desert landscapes are visited by gemsbok, kudu and giraffe.The camp works with the community of theTorra Conservancy to reduce human-wildlife conflict. wildernessdestinations.com

Anabezi Camp Zambia

Overlooking the Zambezi, this low-impact operation has no permanent structure and runs on 90% solar power. Its non-profit arm has supported the building

use reduction, 70% plant-based menu, 80% seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers and a firefly conservation project. escape.banyantree.com

Australia

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort Queensland

Set on a small coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef, this luxury eco-resort adopts measures from solar power and a desalination plant to grey-water recycling. Guests can learn about the reef system, marine life and climate change. ladyelliot.com.au

Treehouse Retreat &

The Fernery New South Wales

Donating land and tools for organic crop production, this lodge empowers local communities in organic farming and entrepreneurship. A water filtration system, composting scheme and solar panels reduce environmental impacts. jetwinghotels.com

Kri Eco Resort

Indonesia

This resort in Raja Ampat trains locals to work as dive guides, offering a more sustainable alternative to shark-finning and overfishing, and helps fund shark conservation and primary education initiatives. papua-diving.com

Buahan Indonesia

The sustainability commitment of this 16-villa luxury resort on Bali is evident from its energy-

Two hand-crafted, solar-powered treehouses stand amid 270 native eucalypts, ferns and palms hosting some 150 bird species and the endangered land mullet.The owners work to revive mangroves and battle invasive weeds. diamondwaters.com.au

CABN South Australia

Luxe cabins provide off-grid accommodation in five locations – including among the radiata pines of the Kuitpo Forest, among the vineyards of the McLarenVale and on Kangaroo Island. Cabins are supplied with solar power and rainwater systems. cabn.life/south-australia

Kestrel Nest EcoHut New South Wales

This off-grid stay was built using recycled materials, runs on solar power and has no internet connection, offering a chance to unplug with paddock-to-plate feasts, birdwatching and nature trails. highfieldfarmwoodland.com

Europe

AliKats France

All chalets in this collection in Morzine are powered by 100% renewable electricity, and 90% are heated by air-source heat pumps. The property has achieved two consecutive years

Ali Kats; Costa Navarino; Heather Durham Photography; Ketti Wilhelm; Mashpi Lodge; Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve

Costa Navarino

Earth Lodge, South Africa

AliKats, France

of zero food waste. Guests who arrive by train, opt out of the hot tub and eat a plant-based menu save up to 20% on accommodation. alikats.eu

Paradores Spain

This collection of often historic properties plays a key role in revitalising small communities and creating economic opportunity through sustainable tourism. It’s eliminated singleuse plastics across all 98 sites. paradores.es/en

Costa Navarino Greece

This complex of deluxe hotels, restaurants, spa centres and golf courses in Messinia, south-west Peloponnese, slashed carbon emissions by an inspiring 80% between 2019 and 2022, and has eliminated 57% of singleuse plastics. By 2025, water consumption is expected to be cut by 15%. And more than 7,000 olive trees have been transplanted – Europe’s largest such programme. costanavarino.com

North America & Caribbean

Southall Farm & Inn

Tennessee, USA

This luxury 60-room inn in Franklin features geothermal power, all-natural construction materials and a system of sensors that adjusts heating and cooling according to the sun’s position. The 130-hectare working farm uses regenerative practices, and native plants are pollinated by four million honeybees on site. southalltn.com

True Blue Bay Grenada

This family-owned resort has installed solar water heaters in all guest rooms and the restaurant kitchen, and solar panels provide 30% of electricity when the hotel is full. Rain water is collected for use in the dry season. A biogas generator converts organic garden and restaurant waste to methane, which partially fuels the resort’s bakery. truebluebay.com

Bucuti & Tara Aruba

This is the only hotel to date to win a UN Global Climate Action Award. Beyond solar panels, land rewilding and minimising waste, its fitness centre features electricity-generating treadmills and bicycles, and fossil-fuel use should be fully phased out in 2024. bucuti.com

Skwachàys Lodge

Vancouver, Canada

This boutique hotel is run as a social enterprise, with the building providing housing and studio space for 24 indigenous artists and a street-level gallery selling their work. skwachays.com

Travelers Hotel Clarksdale, Mississippi

This former stop for railroad workers was revived by a local non-profit, creating an airy and artistic space that feels both modern and connected to its Mississippi Delta roots. Rooms have noTVs, encouraging guests to experience the active local music scene or to chat in the lobby, which serves as a community hub. stayattravelers.com

Hotel Marcel New Haven, Connecticut

This 100% electric, fossil-fuelfree property has heat pumps, induction stoves in the kitchen, and elevators that generate power when braking. Already LEED Platinum certified, it aims to be the USA’s first Passive House-certified hotel and the nation’s first Net Zero hotel by the end of 2025. hotelmarcel.com

Latin America

Bahía Bustamante Argentina

Guests at this remote lodge on a 40,000-hectare sheep farm in Patagonia can watch thousands of Magellan penguins and noisy sea lions. A biodynamic vegetable garden provides the restaurant with fruits, olives, berries, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. Salt and samphire are harvested by hand from the sea, natural springs provide drinking water, and solar panels are the only source of electricity. bahiabustamante.com

Lapa Rios Lodge Costa Rica

An exemplar of ecotourism in a private reserve protecting 400 hectares of tropical lowland rainforest, this lodge works with local communities, establishing a primary school and teaching adults about conservation methods. Green practices include using solar energy, biomass boilers and fully biodegradable cleaning products. laparios.com

Hacienda Zuleta Ecuador

Set on a working farm in the Andes, this hotel inside a 17th-century manor has its own non-profit foundation that runs a library and an embroidery school, sponsors education, oversees a condor rehabilitation project and protects ancient burial mounds of the indigenous Caranqui people. zuleta.com

Blue Apple Beach Colombia

Set on a Caribbean island near Cartagena, this boutique hotel brings joyful and luxurious poolside vibes – while saying no to single-use plastics and yes to local sourcing (85% of its budget is spent in Colombia), regenerating corals and restoring mangroves. blueapplebeach.com

Mashpi Lodge Ecuador

Since this lodge opened a decade ago, researchers have discovered 19 species new to science in its 2,882 hectares of rainforest. Community members have been trained and are now employed as naturalist guides, hotel staff and para-biologists. Staff are also shareholders in the enterprise, benefiting from a profit-share scheme. mashpilodge.com

Southall Farm & Inn, Tennessee, USA

Travelers Hotel, Mississippi, USA

Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador

Knowyour green speak

Confused by any of the terms used? Here’s a condensed version of our online guide to some of the most common sustainability phrases

Biodiversity

Refers to ‘the variability of living organisms, between and within species, and the changeability of the ecosystems to which they belong’(The Convention on Biological Diversity).

Carbonfootprint

The carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of a person, operation or business, typically measured in tonnes. CO2e, or carbon dioxide equivalent, is the standard unit for measuring carbon footprints across industries.While there are more greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, emissions are currently and typically measured in terms of CO2.

Carbonneutral

The balance between emitting and the voluntary reduction and compensation (offsetting) of emissions, to achieve a neutral equilibrium.

Circulareconomy

A circular economy is regenerative and aims to reduce the consumption of finite virgin resources. It encourages the evolving or adaptation of mostly lifestyle products so that they can be reused for longer, and when no longer usable, can be recovered for parts. It is a systemic approach designed to benefit businesses, society, and the environment.

Community-based Tourism(CBT)

Putting the host community at the centre of the travel experience, the aim of CBT is to ensure local people benefit from the income generated from the travel industry.This includes owning and managing their own surroundings, economy and business. CBTs are seen on responsible tour operator itineraries – such as IntrepidTravel’s immersive experiences and ExperienceTravel Group’s ‘Give Back Experiences’. Community-based tourism initiatives may also be supported by donations from an operator’s non-profit arms, such as Planeterra by G Adventures, the Intrepid Foundation or the Great Plains Foundation.

Eco-certified

A certification of sorts that suggests an environmentally-positive operation. However, accreditation varies in standard and integrity and only external professional bodies should be considered as trustworthy. Even then, it’s important to consider the criteria for certification – as some

accreditations are basic, others are more stringent.

Ecotourism

According to the International Ecotourism Society, eco-tourism is “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education”.The term is often used interchangeably with ‘sustainable tourism’, although the latter can relate to any area of sustainability within the sector, not only naturebased tourism.

Environmentally-friendly

This is a loose term and can, technically, cover a whole manner of scopes – including those that may seem ‘green’ on the surface but aren’t on a deeper look. Businesses with a genuinely positive impact tend to offer more detail than this simple term.

Green

Being ‘green’ is used to describe actions or initiatives that are conducted in a sustainable way, in an attempt to reduce impact on planetary resource limits. However, the word can be used to describe actions or initiatives that do not actively do this, but rather convey an ethos of being planet-friendly; eg being outside, walking or riding a bike. This can be considered ‘greenwashing’ (see below).

Greenwashing

This is when an individual or company paints an action as credibly sustainable when, in fact, it largely benefits them or should be considered the bare minimum.This is typically in the form of an overstated or exaggerated claim of environmental or social impact. Sometimes, greenwashing can be unintentional due to a lack of understanding of what is genuinely impactful, but often it is deliberate disinformation intended to engage clients.

Netzero(emissions)

Net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) that’s produced and the amount that’s removed from the atmosphere. It can be achieved through emission reduction and emission removal.

Renewableenergy

Renewable energy comes from (typically) naturally replenishing sources

such as solar, wind, geothermal or hydroelectric (contested).They can be accessed via a public grid system or produced locally, perhaps on-site at a hotel or resort. Renewable energy is typically used for electricity.

Responsibletourism

According to the Responsible Tourism Partnership, ‘Responsible Tourism requires that operators, hoteliers, governments, local people and tourists take responsibility, and take action to make tourism more sustainable. Behaviour can be more or less responsible, and what is responsible in a particular place depends on environment and culture’.The concept was defined in Cape Town in 2002 alongside the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Rewilding

The process of protecting an environment and returning it to its natural state; for example, bringing back wild animals that used to live there (Cambridge Dictionary).

Slowtravel

An approach to travel that emphasises a connection to local people, cultures, food and music. It relies on the idea that a trip is meant to educate and have an emotional impact, while remaining beneficial for local communities and the environment.

Sustainabledevelopment

“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainable development requires the elimination of institutional fragmentation, ensuring that environmental, social, and economic concerns are integrated throughout decision-making processes and development that is fair, equitable and just.” (World Commission on Environment and Development)

Sustainability

The quality of being able to continue over a period of time, or the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources … to maintain an ecological balance (Cambridge Dictionary).

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Biosphere reserves are sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity.They are places that provide local solutions to global challenges. Biosphere reserves include terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems.

Zero-kilometre food

A movement reducing the distance between producers and sales and consumer establishments to a radius of under 100 kilometres, with the aim of minimising the effects that large-scale industry have on the planet, including soil erosion, water pollution, and habitat loss for wild species.

Zero waste

Zero waste is a set of principles that are focused on waste prevention and are geared around prolonging resource life cycles so that all products are repurposed and/or reused (see ‘Circular economy’).The idea is that this should ensure that no waste ends up in a landfill.

Widely noted certifications

European Commission’s

European Green Capital (EGC)

Awarded to cities over 100,000 habitants,to recognise and reward local action towards a transition to a more sustainable future.Winning cities include their citizens in this transition, improve the urban environment, combat pollution and mitigate and prepare for more resilience to climate change.Winners:Vilnius (2025),Valencia (2024),Tallinn (2023), Grenoble (2022), Lahti (2021), Lisbon (2020), Oslo (2019).

LEED

Developed by the US Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the most widely-used building sustainability rating system. For hotels and accommodation (buildings), this is assessed against areas such as energy and water efficiency, materials used, indoor air quality and awareness and education.

Disclaimer: While all entries inTheTravel Green List have been scrutinised by our judges,we can not take responsibility for any inaccuracies in information that has been provided to us.