Greetings from your go-to climate activism hub, Save Our Happy Place. We strive to empower you, the nature lover, the climate activist, the travel enthusiast, to take consistent, timely climate action to preserve not only the places we call home, but also, the place we can’t wait to visit next! From big cities to small islands, jungles to deserts, and every nook in between - these places not only need our love and support but also our vigilance and mindfulness while visiting them.
Here are a few sustainable travel tips to consider and 3 climate actions to take this holiday season.
No Place Like Your Happy Place For The Holidays
Birds Eye View, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Photo by Lindsay Nunez
Whether you’re making your way to warm sunshine or powdery slopes, traveling for the holidays can be a magical and fulfilling way to bond with loved ones. But no matter how far away you roam, traveling has an environmental impact.
The benefits of traveling are infinite for both travelers and for the local economies it stimulates. We would never deter anyone from visiting their happy places, but awareness is power. With that awareness, we can make simple choices to lessen our negative impact on the places we love, while we wait for the aviation industry, rail infrastructure, and renewable energy sector to get their acts together.
Ten Tips for More Sustainable Travel
To help you practice more climate-conscious travel, here are a few suggestions. Adopt whichever makes the most sense for you, and enjoy your trip!
Take greener road trips by demanding automakers make greener vehicles
What? Sign this Save Our Happy Place petition demanding that automakers strive for carbon neutrality by 2030.
Why? Twenty-nine percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation. Many automakers are making plans to transition to fleets of electric vehicles. Now is the time to demand that they do so mindfully.
How? Click the link to sign the petition (Estimated 1 minute).
Take greener cruise vacations by demanding cruise ships stop dumping toxic waste
What? Sign a petition telling the Dept. of Ecology to stop cruise ships from dumping toxic fossil fuel waste.
Why? The Washington Department of Ecology, the Port of Seattle, and the cruise trade industry organization are discussing banning the discharge of scrubber wastes and other detrimental runoff.
How? Click the link to sign the petition (Estimated 1 minute).
If you are looking for a travel destination that serves as an inspiration for living a more environmentally conscious life a/k/a “Pura Vida,” then look no further than Costa Rica! Costa Rica is already doing the important work of creating and maintaining sustainable tourism practices.
Nauyaca Waterfalls, Costa Rica. Video by: Jonathan Hauptman
Having recently visited Costa Rica, we could not recommend it more! Jessica and her team created our custom itinerary comprised of entirely vetted lodging and activities. Planning vacations with local travel consultants like Jessica can help ensure that you’re keeping your trip sustainable and local.
