Carbon Emissions

What about the damaging effect of Carbon Emissions caused by flying?

It is generally acknowledged that the ever increasing human population and our seemingly inexhaustible appetite for energy is causing a rapid increase in carbon dioxide emissions which in turn leads to “global warming” with all the nightmare scenarios that this entails. One of the contributory factors is the growing number of people travelling the globe both on business and on holidays and recreational travel. 

So what can you, and we, do?

There are lots of organisations and people with sometimes contradictory views and advice on this subject, but to stop flying and travelling completely would have devastating effects on the millions of people who rely on tourism. As for the environment, imagine also, if no one visited the gorillas in Rwanda or chose to seek out the magnificent Bengal Tiger. How long do you think those animals and their environment would survive? So, is there a middle way? Well yes we think so. If you want to travel, but are concerned over the potential damaging effects, make sure you benefit in some way the local communities and environments you go to visit and make sure you personally get the most out of it. 

And what about carbon offsetting, planting trees and carbon reduction?

Over the last few years there has been a plethora of carbon offset schemes launched and the choice, and sometimes science behind them, can be confusing. Essentially the  'carbon offsetting' debate and science has evolved and the focus now is to reduce carbon emissions rather than to just plant more trees.

At Exodus some of the projects we support have an element of reducing carbon emissions and you may like to make a donation to these as a way of helping. These projects also have direct benefits to the host communities. The first of these is our ongoing installation of solar cookers in Nepal, a key part of our Himalayan Community Support, and the other is our Tanzanian based Smokeless Stove Programme run in conjunction with PLAN. We would encourage you to visit our pages here on our website to find out more about these projects and, if you would like, make a contribution. At Exodus we believe this is a tangible way to help reduce carbon emissions in some parts of the world we visit.

Exodus and Friends of Conservation

Although there are many 'carbon offset' organisations where you can balance not only your flight but also other elements of your lifestyle, you may like to do so with our charity partner Friends of Conservation

What else can you do?

We’re all conscious of the impact our holiday can have on the environment, but you may also like to consider ways in which you can reduce your carbon footprint at home and in the office.

The government’s ActonCO2 website contains a useful tool for calculating your carbon footprint and enables you to put an action plan together for your household.