11 Environmentally Friendly Travel Destinations
11 Environmentally Friendly Travel Destinations
Sustainability is a hot topic today, particularly when it comes to travel. As society is becoming increasingly conscious of its impact on the environment, eco-tourism has also been gaining popularity. Although many people might think that environmentally friendly and travel do not belong in the same sentence, several countries around the world are revamping their sustainability efforts for locals and tourists alike. Discussed below are 11 such destinations committed to creating an environmentally friendly travel experience for their visitors. These destinations remind us that there’s no reason you can’t see the planet while also doing your part to protect it. Read more below!
Iceland: Iceland is rife with natural beauty, teeming with as fjords, natural hot springs, waterfalls, glaciers, and volcanoes. Popular activities include whale watching and glacier hiking. Iceland has long been known to be one of the most environmentally conscious countries on the planet, and its capital, Reykjavik, is known to be one of the cleanest cities in the world. Its location on the mid-Atlantic ridge makes it one of the most tectonically active places in the world. Almost 100% of the country’s electricity is supplied by its natural hydro and geothermal resources. Iceland is the perfect place to see the Northern Lights without any light pollution.
The Azores Islands: Located off the coast of Portugal, this archipelago is made up of nine volcanic islands, lush with mountains, valleys, thermal hot springs, crater lakes, and waterfalls. Their goal is for 75% of their electricity to be powered by wind, geothermal, and biomass energies by the end of this year. The islanders are committed to protecting the local environment and wildlife, which includes dolphins, turtles, sperm whales, seabirds, pelagic fish, and cold-water corals. The islands are home to an increasing number of protected areas, including the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and European Geoparks. Most of the food on the islands is locally sourced. Popular sustainable activities include bird, dolphin, and whale watching; snorkeling; and diving.
Costa Rica: As we’ve written about previously, Costa Rica is a hot spot for wellness tourism. In Costa Rica, you can explore such ecological wonders as the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, and several rainforests, jungles, beaches, and hot springs. About 25% of the country’s territory is protected as national parks and biological reserves. In addition, Costa Rica is home to most of the world’s biodiversity (approximately 5%), which includes turtles, sloths, monkeys, snakes, toucans, and quetzals. The country offers a variety of coast-to-coast cycling trips and tours and a large selection of eco lodges. Costa Rica aims to become the first carbon-neutral country by 2020 and currently uses 95% renewable energy sources.
New Zealand: In 2015, 22% of New Zealand’s energy was powered by geothermal sources. By 2025, the country aims to be completely free of fossil fuels. Some ecological wonders that you don’t want to miss include the glowworm caves, Hawke’s Bay vineyards, glaciers and snow-topped mountains, whale and dolphin watching, beaches, and ancient forests.
Finland: About two thirds of Finland’s energy is produced from renewable or nuclear power sources. It aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Furthermore, its capital, Helsinki, aims to be car-free by 2025. Plans are in place to enable smartphone users to summon on-demand buses with the tap of a finger. Finland is the most forested country in Europe and is home to 40 national parks, 200,000 reindeer, and over 1000 species of flowering plants.
Palau: Palau is a series of 500 coral and volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean surrounded by pristine, crystal-clear waters that teem with diverse marine life. The country is committed to sustainable tourism practices and protecting coral reefs. Nearly 500 miles of coral reefs are designated as no-fishing zones, so many endangered fish species have repopulated the area. Eighty percent of the country’s maritime territory is set aside as sanctuary, and locals are encouraged to turn to aquaculture. Visitors are required to sign the Palau Pledge to “act responsibly to protect the islands’ natural and cultural heritage.” Diving is one of the most popular sustainable activities in Palau, and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to dive in Jellyfish Lake.
Ecuador: Ecuador was the first country to recognize the rights of nature in its constitution. One of the most biodiverse countries in the world, it is home to over 5000 species of mammals. In addition to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador also has a huge chunk of the Amazon Rainforest and is one of the last bastions of the South American Cloud Forest. It has a variety of thriving ecosystems and some of the best eco lodges in South America.
Switzerland: Switzerland is committed to reducing emissions, using sustainable energy, improving water quality, and maintaining biodiversity. During a visit to Switzerland, you can enjoy views of serene lakes, the snow-topped Alps, bright-green hills, deep-blue streams, and of course, skiing.
Slovenia: More than 54% of Slovenia’s land is protected, making it country with the second-most amount of protected land. More than half of its total area is covered in forest. Its capital, Ljubljana, was the first capital in the EU to take part in the “zero waste” program. The city is committed to creating and maintaining public green areas, which make up a third of its territory. While the city center was once dominated by cars, it is now dominated by pedestrians and cyclists.
Norway: Norway’s official slogan is “powered by nature,” and conservation is a huge part of the culture. It is one of Europe’s largest providers of hydropower, and in 2013, it reportedly used waste as a source of eco-friendly fuel to power homes, schools, offices, and shops. Its goal is to become carbon neutral by 2030 and is already investing in technology to reduce emissions. Vulkan is one of the eco-friendliest neighborhoods in Norway’s capital, Oslo. The neighborhood has a series of 300-meter-deep geothermal wells that heat all its buildings in the winter and keep them cool in the summer. In Norway, you can enjoy stunning views of the fjords and the glaciers and interact with the wildlife in Spitsbergen.
Denmark: Denmark uses the least carbon dioxide per capita of any country—about 0.06 tons, specifically. Its capital, Copenhagen, is filled with bikes. The number of people who bike to work in Copenhagen alone is about as many as those who bike to work in the entire United States. In Copenhagen, green roofs are required for all new flat-roofed structures. The city is also filled with restaurants that make delicious meals out of would-be waste products. When you visit Copenhagen, you’ll definitely want to stop by Cykelslangen—a purpose-built cycle bridge from which you can observe views of the city’s harbor and solar-powered boats.
Have you ever been to any of these destinations? Are you itching to visit any of them? Do you want to learn more about sustainability practices or share some of your own? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’ll want to check out Konversai. Konversai is the world’s first one-stop shop for any and all personal human knowledge. The online platform connects providers of knowledge with seekers of knowledge on any topic of interest all through one-on-one live video conversations. Users can be anywhere in the world and from any walk of life and are encouraged to be both providers of knowledge and seekers of knowledge on any and as many topics as they wish, be it travel, sustainability and green living, cooking, fine wines, foreign languages, academic subjects, sports, video games, career coaching, writing, makeup, or anything else you might be able to think of—the only limit is your imagination. All sessions take place at mutually convenient times for both parties, and knowledge providers can charge as much as they want for their time. Meanwhile, knowledge seekers can enjoy a personalized, tailored, one-on-one session on exactly what they’re looking to learn about any particular topic. Konversai’s mission is to democratize knowledge, put the human connection back into the heart of technology, and make the world better by enabling meaningful and authentic conversations that can enrich and improve people’s lives. Become part of the movement by joining Konversai today!
By Pavita Singh
Sources:
- Explore Worldwide. Most Eco Friendly Places to Visit on Earth.
- O’Donnell, Shannon. (2018). 4 Eco-Friendly Travel Destinations. Eagle Creek.
- Parker, Jenn. (2018). 11 Eco-Friendly Destinations You Must Visit Around the World. Culture Trip.
- Smith, Oliver. (2018). The holiday destinations that are saving the planet. The Telegraph.
- World Travel Guide. (2018). The 20 greenest destinations on Earth.
