Holidaymakers planning to travel abroad are being urged to reduce their effect on the environment.

The Travel Foundation is setting up new carbon emission reduction programmes designed to reduce the "carbon footprint" of holidaymakers in destinations worldwide by means of initiatives such as low energy technology in hotels, better insulation and the use of low carbon tourist vehicles.

Holidaymakers can support the work of the Travel Foundation by making a donation when they book with operators including First Choice Holidays, Thomas Cook, and Sunvil, or by visiting thetravelfoundation.org.uk, or by texting the word "donate" to 61199.

The new initiative, starting initially with Defra , is aimed at reducing the environmental consequences of official travel, including their carbon emissions. Material will be made available to officials which will allow them to make more sustainable travel choices.

First Choice is committed to working to reduce the environmental impacts of all our activities, and our support for the valuable work being done by the Travel Foundation is a key part of our focus on sustainability. We are delighted that most of our customers choose to make a donation to the foundation.

The new Travel Foundation schemes are specifically focused on reducing the carbon emissions of tourism in resort destinations, and complement the Foundation's existing range of sustainability programmes combating poverty and promoting conservation of destination environments and their wildlife enjoyed by British holidaymakers worldwide; further information about the Foundation's work is on its website .

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Vivien Cruickshank said:

Why do we persist with the myth of carbon offsetting. What are we offsetting against?. Is it the countries of the world who aren't using the earth's resources to start with so no change there!,or the well intentioned schemes being put in place. All very well. Planting trees maybe,but they take up to a hundred years to complete their life. Britain has many more trees than it did a century ago. It is imperative to stop the further destruction of Rainforest which I am told absorbs more CO2 than is produced by all the transport systems of the world. Be a vegetarian. The rearing of farm animals for meat and milk creates 18% of the CO2. That was an eye-opener for me, (I am not vegetarian but am seriously thinking of it.) I have made a commitment not to fly. That isn't difficult for me ,as I don,t like flying and have no relatives living abroad that I feel I have to visit. That would certainly make it more difficult, but I think foreign holidays are not necessary.

October 30, 2007

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