Dictionary for Sustainable Travel — A Glossary of Key Terms
Dictionary For Sustainable Trip — A Glossary of Sustainable Travel Terms
From carbon footprints to undertourism, the vocabulary of sustainable travel is still unfamiliar to many. Here is a collection of key terms to help you take a step closer to becoming a smarter, more creative traveler.
Compiled by Pyo Youngso
Carbon Footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) that an individual or organization generates, directly or indirectly, is called a carbon footprint. It includes all the fuels, products, energy and services used in daily life. The more greenhouse gases are emitted, and carbon dioxide concentrations in particular rise, the greater the impact on global warming. The concept derives from the ecological footprint, which converts the amount of nature required to sustain human life into units of land. It became widely known in 2006, when the British oil company BP used the term in a large-scale marketing campaign. The campaign introduced a carbon footprint calculator and suggested ways to reduce everyday emissions, helping to shift responsibility for carbon emissions onto the individual. In South Korea, a carbon footprint labeling system has been in place since 2009, requiring the carbon footprint generated during a product’s production and distribution to be displayed.
Carbon Offset and Carbon Neutrality
A carbon offset compensates for greenhouse gas emissions through activities that help reduce them, such as forest protection, tree planting and investment in renewable energy. In a broad sense, it carries the same meaning as reducing emissions. Quantifying these reductions so they can be traded between companies or individuals creates what is known as a carbon offset credit. Governments, local authorities and private certification bodies verify the value of reductions in carbon emissions. Bringing the net amount of carbon dioxide emitted down to ‘0’ through offsets and emissions cuts is called carbon neutrality (carbon neutral), also known as ‘net zero’ or ‘carbon zero.’
Carbon Emission Rights
The right to emit greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming is called a carbon emission right (Certified Emission Reductions). In February 2005, the Kyoto Protocol, which set greenhouse gas reduction targets for developed countries under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, came into force. To implement it smoothly, an emissions trading system (ETS) was introduced, allowing greenhouse gas reductions to be traded commercially. Countries obligated to cut emissions are granted national carbon emission allowances, which can then be traded like commodities in markets between countries or companies. For example, a company whose emissions exceed its allocation can purchase surplus rights from a company that emits less than its quota. In addition, the Clean Development Mechanism allows developed countries with reduction obligations to invest in developing countries; when those investments achieve emissions reductions, they are counted toward the developed country’s own reduction record.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Alternative fuel made from used cooking oil, agricultural residues and similar materials, intended to reduce carbon emissions from aircraft operations, is called Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Because it can be used in existing aircraft without additional equipment or modifications, it is also known as ‘drop-in’ fuel. The aviation industry accounts for 2 to 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Compared with conventional jet fuel, SAF can cut carbon emissions by an average of up to 80 percent across the entire production and consumption cycle. Because of its cost, SAF currently accounts for only 0.1 percent of global fuel use, but the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has pledged that the aviation industry will achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
In 2015, the United Nations announced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ‘provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.’ They are common goals for humanity to achieve by 2030, made up of 17 major goals and 169 targets covering the environment as well as ending poverty and hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, and affordable clean energy. Sustainable travel is part of these targets, too. They include specifics related to sustainable travel, such as promoting local culture and products, creating jobs, and pursuing economic benefits through the sustainable use of marine resources. Meanwhile, South Korea has established its own national framework, the K-SDGs, to address domestic issues while contributing to the shared goals of the international community.
Overtourism
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) defines overtourism as ‘tourism that has excessive negative impacts on a destination, namely on the lives of local residents and/or the quality of visitors’ experiences.’ The term first appeared in 2012 but came into common use in the summer of 2017. As visitors flooded certain European cities such as Barcelona, Venice and Dubrovnik, disrupting local daily life and damaging the natural environment, backlash against the unchecked growth of the tourism industry intensified. After travel was restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic, residents of popular destinations who had experienced a peaceful everyday life became even more wary of overtourism. Alternatives being proposed include limits on visitor numbers at specific attractions or regions, tourist taxes and sustainable travel campaigns.
Tourist Tax
A tax levied on tourists is called a tourist tax. It has recently come to be seen as a way to ease overtourism. Many European countries and several US states charge a per-night tourist tax under names such as city tax or accommodation tax. In some places, such as Japan and the Caribbean countries, a departure tax is added to airfare. Venice, which is struggling with overtourism, plans to charge all day-trippers a tourist tax of 3 to 10 euros as an entrance fee starting in the summer of 2023. It will also cap the number of visitors to the city center.
Undertourism
Just as overtourism damages a destination’s nature and local daily life and harms the travel industry, so does undertourism. When unexpected events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, or political and economic conditions cause a shortage of visitors, the local economy takes a serious hit. It threatens the livelihoods of those who work in the travel industry, while leaving less capital to protect a region’s distinctive resources and culture. Recently, undertourism has come to mean traveling to less crowded and lesser-known places, and it is emerging as an alternative to overtourism and a way of traveling sustainably.
Green Globe
Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Green Globe is a global certification that assesses sustainability across the tourism industry. It first appeared in the early 1990s, just as the term ‘sustainable tourism’ was emerging, and has continued for more than 30 years. It evaluates every sector of the travel industry, including attractions, hotels and resorts, restaurants, institutions, transportation and travel agencies, covering not only environmental impact but also sustainable management, cultural heritage, and social and economic sustainability. Ratings are divided into Certified, Gold and Platinum, depending on the percentage of Green Globe’s criteria met and the length of time certification has been maintained. (The criteria, which serve as international standards for sustainable tourism, are reviewed and updated every two years.) Green Globe now has more than 500 members in over 80 countries worldwide.
LEED
A global certification system for green buildings. Developed by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it is the most widely used system in the world. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) does not simply focus on a single element of construction such as energy, water or health. It is an integrated system that considers every element in order to create the best possible building. Its aims are to minimize the impact on the global climate, protect and restore water resources, improve the sustainability and resilience of material cycles, protect and strengthen biodiversity and environmental systems, and promote human health and quality of life. It applies to commercial buildings as well as homes, neighborhood development and cities, and is divided by score into Certified (under 50 points), Silver (50–59), Gold (60–79) and Platinum (80 or above).
Mālama Hawai‘i
This campaign from the Hawaii Tourism Authority invites travelers to care for Hawaii’s nature, culture, and people. In Hawaiian, mālama means ‘to care for, to look after.’ It means traveling not simply as a visitor who consumes and enjoys Hawaii, but in ways that also benefit local communities. Mālama Hawai‘i activities range widely: protecting the islands’ forests by planting trees and removing invasive species, joining conservation efforts such as beach cleanups, and learning about Hawaiian culture and traditions while connecting with locals. Staying at accommodations that practice sustainability, visiting local markets, and buying locally made products all count as well.
See the Mālama Hawai‘i experience from Pitch by Magazine
Swisstainable
‘Swisstainable’ is the name of Switzerland’s sustainability strategy, which aims to make the country climate neutral by 2050. To that end, Switzerland Tourism actively promotes sustainable ways to travel and travel programs across the country. That means experiencing local culture in traditional ways, consuming regional products, and staying longer in one place. As a country with one of the densest rail networks in the world, Switzerland can be explored from end to end by train, and electric, eco-friendly transport such as cable cars and funiculars makes it easy to reach high alpine areas. The 65,000 kilometers of hiking trails are not to be missed either. If you are planning a Swiss trip this winter, you may also want to look at the list of ‘car-free resort destinations,’ where vehicle access is completely restricted.