Eco-Responsible Travel
Automobiles are among the biggest producers of carbon emissions worldwide, but airplanes are right behind them. How is it possible to see the world without damaging it? There are ways to green your method of transportation and cut down on guilt even when you require an airplane to get to your destination.
To cut down on carbon emissions, cut out the far-away travel. Spend your honeymoon close to home exploring all the great places nearby. Do some research to find the best local restaurants, lodgings, national or state parks, and cultural events. Your dream honeymoon location may be just around the corner.
Airplanes
If flying is your designated mode of transportation, you can purchase carbon offsets or search for an eco-friendly flight company to minimize your negative impact on the environment. British Airways has adopted ways to reduce carbon emissions by increasing fuel efficiency. Other airline companies are purchasing carbon offsets. Many companies are researching new materials and designs to make planes more eco-friendly. The biggest problem is the fuel. Biodiesel for airplanes is showing great promise. In October 2007, Green Flight International successfully completed the world's first jet aircraft flight powered by 100 percent biofuel.
Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Atlantic Airways, has pledged to invest in researching clean fuel sources. He has partnered with Boeing and the engine maker GE to develop biofuels that can be used in commercial aircraft. They plan to test soy, newspapers, and vegetable-based biofuels in Boeing aircraft.
The aviation industry is responsible for releasing about 572 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. That equals around 2 percent of total global carbon emissions. The European Union plans to include the industry in its effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions beginning in 2011; industries such as steel and power generators are already required to reduce their emissions.
Trains
Train travel is much more eco-friendly than air travel — taking a train causes ten times less damage than taking an airplane, according to Greenpeace. Another one of Branson's companies, Virgin Trains, is now offering green train travel options in Europe. It offers sustainable and recycled materials in its trains.
A train trip might be the eco-way to go. Just make sure that if the trip is a long one you book a private room. You wouldn't want to spend a couple days of your honeymoon in public seats without any quality alone time.
Cruise Ships
Cruise ships, no matter how romantic they may appear, are extremely bad polluters. Ships dump enormous amounts of waste into the oceans every day. There are more than 200 commercial cruise ships that carry millions of passengers around the world. In just one day, a typical cruise ship can generate 25,000 gallons of sewage from toilets; 143,000 gallons of sewage from sinks, galleys, and showers; more than seven tons of garbage and solid waste; 15 gallons of toxic chemicals; and 7,000 gallons of oily bilge water. Learn more about the environmentally hazardous ways of cruise ships at Oceana (www.oceana.org) and the Bluewater Network (www.bluewaternetwork.org).
If you are thinking about taking a cruise for your honeymoon, you might want to think again, or search for one that is compliant with eco-friendly practices, such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, or Cruise North Expeditions.
