PROTECTING OUR PLANET FROM GLOBAL WARMING IS OF EVER-INCREASING IMPORTANCE. FLEMMICH WEBB FINDS PRACTICAL WAYS WE CAN ALL FEEL LESS HOT UNDER THE COLLAR

PUMPING UP THE AIR CON or heating a few degrees? Driving to your local supermarket to pick up vital supplies? Either way, you are contributing to global warming. Businesses, governments, celebrities, your next-door neighbour – everyone, it seems, is discussing the importance of cutting carbon dioxide emissions and reducing the impact on the planet.

WARMING THE WAY

But what exactly is global warming? Simply put, it is the average increase in the earth’s temperature, a phenomenon that has occurred naturally in the past (since the 16th century’s Little Ice Age, for example), but that most scientists agree is happening more quickly now as a result of human activity.

The earth is heated by rays from the sun that are reflected back into space through the atmosphere. Layers of gases (some of which are called greenhouse gases) make up the earth’s atmosphere, and these gases trap optimal amounts of the sun’s heat to keep the planet at a temperature that life can thrive in. This gaseous layer has remained stable for thousands of years.

But over the past 200 years, industrial activity has released extra carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and this – combined with global deforestation decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide that is absorbed – has led to a thickening of this “thermal blanket” of gases. The atmosphere now traps too much heat and this has caused a steady rise in the earth’s temperature. It has increased by 0.6OC since 1900.

that may not sound like much, but the earth’s equilibrium is held in place by a number of delicately balanced interdependent systems: if one changes, others tend to change, too. Already, there is evidence that sea ice in the Arctic and glaciers in the Antarctic are melting faster than ever. If this is irreversible, experts predict a seven-metre rise in sea levels in 100 years, causing devastating flooding to cities like London, New York, Tokyo and Mumbai.

There is some evidence that weather patterns are already changing, with recent increases in natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods. Heat waves in 2003 killed thousands in India and Europe. In other parts of the world, drought could affect more than four billion people if temperatures keep soaring.

AFFECTING US ALL

Faced with doom-laden predictions of our planet’s meltdown which oft en seems to only relate to distant developing nations, it is easy to think: “Why should I care? It won’t really affect me…”, and carry on as before. But such attitudes are outdated. In today’s global economy, it is hard for countries to insulate themselves from disasters in other nations. These days, it affects everyone.

Hurricane Katrina, for example, which struck New Orleans in 2005, caused a jump in international oil prices and made petrol more expensive all over the world. Extreme weather, such as floods and drought, affects countries with more moderate climates, impacting the homes and lifestyles of people who think it won’t happen to them. Like it or not, we have an increasingly common interest in protecting our planet.

It is no coincidence, therefore, that the United Nations General Assembly has decreed that 2008 is the International Year of Planet Earth, to make people more aware of the human consequences of climate change and the impact of sustainable development, and to encourage the sharing of expertise and intercultural dialogue.

CARBON OFFSETTING

To help mitigate some impacts of flying, you can “offset” the amount of carbon dioxide created by funding a project that reduces the equivalent amount. These usually focus on renewable energy, improving energy efficiency (reducing the amount of energy needed) and planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

“For the travel and tourism industry, which depends on a healthy environment for its future viability, offsetting is one of many tools available to address climate change,” says Peter de Jong, PATA President and CEO. “However, it is advisable for the consumer to carefully examine the reputation and track record of several offset programmes before making a selection.” Two companies that are worth considering are Climate Care (www.climatecare.org) or The CarbonNeutral Company (www.carbonneutral.com).

Offsetting is controversial and is often criticised for not encouraging people to reduce carbon emissions by changing their behaviour. The world needs to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, not just offset them. However, offsetting through a bona fide scheme is better than doing nothing at all.

– Clare Brundle

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

The travel and tourism sector – 846 million international arrivals and some four billion domestic flights globally in 2006 – has an increasingly important part to play in these aims. Although criticised for encouraging air travel, tourism is vital for emerging economies, many of which rely heavily on tourist income.

At present, air travel is a relatively low contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions but it is the fastest growing. Speaking at the International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism in Davos, Switzerland last October, UNWTO’s (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli set out the mission for the industry: “A revolution, not just economic or technological, but also cultural, is what climate change is calling for the tourism world to bring about,” he said.

The travel industry is slowly waking up to the challenge. PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) has announced a one-and-half-day conference, the CEO Challenge 2008: Confronting Climate Change. Taking place in Bangkok in April, it will encourage decision-makers from all sectors of the travel and tourism industry to agree and commit to actions that tackle climate change, following the outcome of the UNWTO’s recent conference.

Airlines, too, have realised that they need to engage with the issue and some of the more progressive ones have started initiatives to increase awareness of climate change. Bangkok Airways, for example, has recently launched a new “Love Earth, Save Earth” campaign (right). Of course what is really needed is the invention of an aircraft that does not use fossil fuels, but that, at the moment at least, is an impossible dream.

LOVE EARTH, SAVE EARTH

Some pioneering airlines are adopting green policies and launching programmes to educate their fliers about responsible travel. Bangkok Airways is leading the way in Thailand with its new “Love Earth, Save Earth” campaign that seeks to raise awareness among its passengers about how to preserve the environment, lessen the impact of flying and protect the natural surroundings when travelling to its beautiful destinations. The campaign features five useful tips on how to lessen your impact on the environment and five tips on how to improve your impact.

The airline has also tried to create environmentally friendly airports – both Sukhothai Airport and the new Samui Airport terminal feature open-air structures that rely on the natural breeze rather than air-conditioning.

Along with such energy-saving ideas, treatment plants at Sukhothai Airport allow its water to be recycled for use in the surrounding fields, in which Bangkok Airways grows organic rice for serving onboard their flights. Such initiatives have resulted in this facility winning a string of accolades, including the Environmental Impact Assessment Monitoring Award for the past five years.

– Clare Brundle

HOW TO HELP

Responsibility lies with the individual as well, especially those of us in the more a[fb04] uent West. It is a sobering thought that a US citizen emits, on average, 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita annually and a UK resident, nine tonnes per capita, while in China, the average is just 2.7 tonnes per capita (albeit rising fast) and in Ethiopia, only 0.06 tonnes per capita.

Yet, seemingly small actions, if taken collectively, can have a huge impact on climate change: if everyone in the UK turned off electronic devices instead of leaving them on stand-by, the amount of energy saved every year would be the equivalent to the annual output of two power stations. Numerous simple steps can be taken to make big carbon dioxide savings at home, whether it be installing natural ventilation systems to reduce the use of air-conditioning, adding insulation to cut heating needs, replacing existing light bulbs with low energy ones, installing solar water heaters, or signing up with a green energy supplier.

Travel choices make a difference too. For example, public transport oft en emits less carbon dioxide per kilometre than a normal car. And when flying, there are ways to minimise the impact on climate change (see Carbon Offsetting on page 85) and local environments (see Responsible Travel Check List, right).

The scientific community is also in agreement, and the world is finally hot on its heels. Climate change is occurring – and it is occurring fast. There are no reasonable arguments for not acting immediately to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

As citizens of Planet Earth, we all are responsible for its protection to ensure that our children and grandchildren can continue to enjoy it. If we fail to act now, their future looks extremely precarious.

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL CHECK LIST

Use public transport where possible. If you need to hire a car, pick one with an offset policy and/or environmentally friendly fleets such as Avis

Choose your accommodation carefully and ask about their environmental policy before checking in. Visit the website www.responsibletravel.com for 10 questions you should ask, including things like “what information is provided to tourists on local customs?”

Try to spend time in locally run and/or owned hotels and restaurants; they add more to the local economy

Use water sparingly

Make sure that any excursions you go on do not damage the environment and are run by responsible operators When buying souvenirs or food, buy local rather than imported goods. This supports the local economy and reduces the number of miles (and therefore carbon dioxide) expended to deliver the goods

Never buy anything made from endangered species

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