A post by Shawn Bisangwa Luciano:

With all that’s going on in the world, the one thing we can all agree on is the need to have sustainable practices that protect the environment. However frequent a traveler you are, prioritizing the environment should be a given because neglecting it is detrimental to your travel goals.

In a world that is ever-changing, more so in regards to climate, holding sustainable practices like using transportation options with less carbon emissions, supporting eco-friendly businesses, emphasizing proper recycling habits, minimizing water flow when in the bathroom/kitchen, and so many other practices, will help save the planet that we hope to see during vacation.

How do you create this purposeful trip? Choose locations, hotels, businesses, products, and transport plans that have sustainability at the core of their operations.
You do not need to feel the weight of saving the planet on your shoulders while at it; every small habit you practice creates a change along the way. It most definitely won’t happen overnight, but when you see fewer effects of climate change happen at your dream/fav destinations; fewer hurricanes in Florida, less flooding in East Asia, less waste at the shores of beaches in Eastern Africa, and air quality around the world improve, only then will you be proud of putting the planet first.

Being part of the climate change initiative, The Loud Project, back home in Uganda showed me firsthand the effects that come with being an enabler of global warming. Having the “other people will do it, I don’t have the time” attitude is much bigger than you’d think it is. While presenting the water project for a video showcased at the COP27 Summit in Egypt, I vowed to be a change so that I could create a world that I want to see when I travel.
What are some of the sustainable habits I practice without fail? Closing the tap as I brush my teeth or between washing and rinsing my dishes, using less paper by sharing files or docs online, walking wherever I can so I drive less to minimize carbon emissions, using less plastic when I have the opportunity to choose not to use/have it, and sharing this information alone is a sustainable practice haha!

As you build your itinerary, remember to incorporate and support eco-friendly habits and businesses.