The 2023 tourism season was very important for the industry. Finally, after the pandemic-related calm An increase has been recorded. By the end of July, international tourist numbers had reached 84% of pre-pandemic levels, and even exceeded them in some countries. We are talking about Denmark, France and Ireland.
From an economic point of view, this is probably great news. However, it’s not great for the environment. Returning to pre-pandemic levels, or even increasing them, has catastrophic consequences for the environment and society. This year we have seen how far climate change has already reached. This has happened in many tourist countries Terrible firesTourists were forced to flee hurriedly to many places.
Portugal, Spain and Turkey were subjected to warnings about severe weather conditions associated with high temperatures. As a result, some suggest radical changes in our habits to prevent disasters. We are talking here about the so-called introduction “Carbon passports”which may become a reality soon.
Carbon passports work by setting an annual limit on each traveller’s carbon dioxide emissions. This seems radical, especially for people who travel a lot. Not a new idea. But the British Parliament already considered a similar approach in 2008 The project was abandoned, among other things, due to the possibility of public opposition.
The Intrepid Travel report predicts that carbon passports will become permanent Until 2040. Although it could be closer, since many regulations and restrictions have been introduced over the past year, suggesting that our travel habits may change significantly.
Climate change will not only affect how we travel, but where we travel. Higher temperatures will make frequently chosen countries no longer attractive. This project is also controversial for another reason. A recent report on carbon dioxide emissions showed this 1 percent: The rich emit more carbon dioxide than half the world. This is according to a report prepared by Oxfam and the Stockholm Environment Institute. The report covers data collected in the years 1990-2015.
Changes in our travel habits seem inevitable, but the question remains It will help stop the changes, which seems to get worse every year. The question is whether carbon passports would apply to all the world’s citizens, including the richest.
Many European countries have already taken some steps to this end Reducing the number of flights. Short-distance routes were abolished and replaced by road transport. From April 1, 2023, passengers on short-haul flights and those using older aircraft will be subject to additional taxes. In this way, the authorities want to encourage travelers to choose alternative means of transportation.
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