The most sustainable route is simply not to travel but, for a lot of people who have the means to see the world, that isn’t a realistic long-term expectation. The next best option is to engage wholeheartedly with sustainable practices, making better decisions when it comes to your trips.

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I visited Malaysia last-month with my partner and stayed on an island blanketed by thick jungle, broken only by a hotel. Each morning we drank our coffees watching the sun-rise, listening to the cacophony of jungle sounds; being immersed in a novel environment where I felt really connected to nature made me both more aware and appreciative of it.

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According to the RSPB, research shows that people with a greater connection to nature are more likely to behave positively towards the environment. David Attenborough’s Wild Isles did a brilliant job of depicting the UK’s diverse wild-life, and spending time in nature in our day-to-day lives encourages us to do better in serving and protecting it.

“people with a greater connection to nature are more likely to behave positively towards the environment”

On the whole, where you’re spending time in nature doesn’t matter; the obvious exception to this being destinations suffering from over-tourism. Globally, certain sites, beaches and even islands have been popularised to the extent they’re adversely impacted- typically via degradation of coral and wildlife, plus increased pollution and waste.

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Some simple ways to avoid compounding this are i) visit less-frequented attractions and areas (there are other Inca ruins in Peru that rival Machu Picchu), ii) rather than committing ‘drive-by tourism’, base yourself somewhere for long enough to really appreciate it, and iii) avoid traveling during peak-seasons where possible.

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A further product of over tourism is that soaring rent prices and a loss of community can make areas unliveable for locals. Those that own homes may turn to platforms such as Airbnb; a small way of paying back these communities is choosing locally-owned accommodation options (as well as supporting small businesses when you’re there) rather than those run by global agencies and investors- it’s generally pretty clear on these sites who owns the property.

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Finally, it’s a common misconception that long-haul travel is inherently ‘worse’ than short-haul, but the equation isn’t that simple. The bulk of a plane journey’s emissions take place during take-off and landing, so, though a flight from London to Dublin is undoubtedly less damaging than one from London to New York due to the length, taking one long-haul flight and spending more time in a country will likely be less harmful than numerous short-haul flights and fleeting visits.

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It also means direct flights are the more environmentally-friendly option (on a relative basis- there really is nothing friendly about flying), as is sitting in economy and carrying-on luggage (the greater the weight, the more fuel burned). For a far more nuanced and in-depth exploration of this, a wonderful and tremendously informative read is Flying Green- On the Frontiers of New Aviation by Christopher De Bellaigue.

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