April 22 is Earth Day, an initiative originally conceived in 1970 to raise global awareness about environmental issues worldwide.
This annual day of support has grown rapidly over the years.
Gradually, awareness about our collective responsibility to live sustainably seems to be taking hold.
This year Earth Day events will take place all over the world to promote the idea that we should be protecting the environment in every way we can, and the responsible travel movement in particular has been gaining speed in recent years.
But we shouldn’t wait for Earth Day to start being conscious of the impact we have on the planet.
There are a lot of little things that everyone can do and incorporate these into their daily lives and travel routines to start making a positive difference both at home and abroad.
Be conscious of your impact. When you book a flight, tour or accommodation, question whether (and how) the company supports sustainable travel.
When you’re walking around in a new city or discovering a national park, think about whether there is anything you can do to reduce your carbon footprint while you are there.
Choose a “green hotel” that prides itself on using alternative energy sources, hiring local employees and using locally sourced products, offering recycling options and giving back to the local community.
Unplug! Make sure the lights, heating unit/AC and television are switched off each time you leave your hotel room. Remember to also do this at home before leaving for a vacation!
Leave the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door to stop housekeeping from cleaning your room every day. The cleaning supplies and electricity of vacuuming and washing bed linens you save adds up. This also means you will end up re-using your towels for several days, just as you would do at home!
Use just one bar of soap for both the sink and the shower, and take any leftover soap with you. The hotel will just throw it out if you leave it behind.
Return brochures and maps to the concierge for re-use after you’ve finished using them.
Living our mission of journalism that builds communities, CDN Digital will come out with a series of articles on the protection and conservation of our planet in celebration of World Earth Day. We are running this series in partnership with Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).