How to Be a Responsible Traveller

The Covid-19 pandemic has given the world an unprecedented chance to rethink the way we travel. So as not to cause more harm to the planet than we already have, be a bellwether of this new world by travelling responsibly and without compunction

- Samantha Lim

1 TRAVEL LONGER BUT LESS

“Shall we go to Bali or Bangkok this weekend?” is a tempting proposal often pitched in Kuala Lumpur. And why not, when low-cost airlines charge a pittance for return flights? Even so, the allure of short and sweet vacations someplace close by is coupled with the ominous fact that whether you travel by car or train or plane, going from A to B racks up detrimental amounts of greenhouses gases.

Hence the case for taking longer, intermittent trips. The only way to reduce our carbon footprint, as underscored by Carbon Brief Ltd, is to travel less miles overall. Make it a month-long Euro trip as opposed to four-weekend getaways—all the better to experience a place instead of seeing it superficially.

2 FREEWHEEL IT