Every year since 1970, people from all walks of life have united to drive sustainability and fight climate change by marking Earth Day on April 22nd. As members of the travel industry, it serves as a poignant reminder of our crucial duty and responsibility to safeguard the very essence of the ‘product’ we stand behind each day.
This 53rd Earth Day theme is ‘Investing in our planet’, which speaks to building a greener economy and an equitable future for all.
My apologies for referring to the Earth as a product in the intro which is not an appropriate or accurate way to view our precious planet and one and only home.
While it is true that certain aspects of the Earth can be commodified and monetised, such as natural resources or travel and tourism, talking about the entire planet as a product is dangerous.
In today’s world, sustainability is the only pathway to prosperity for humanity and businesses alike.
There is no longer a choice between going green and growing long-term profits. It is crucial for businesses of all sizes to act now. If they don’t, climate change will cause even more catastrophic damage to our economies and industry and negatively impact us all.
Treating the Earth as a product perpetuates the notion that we mortal humans are separate from nature and that we can exploit it for our own gain without consequence. This kind of thinking has led to environmental degradation, climate change, and a host of other problems that threaten the health and stability of our planet, of which tourism has played its part.
As Sir David Attenborough says, “We are a part of the natural world, and nature is a part of us. We depend on the natural world for every breath we take and every mouthful of food we eat, and yet we have destroyed so much of it. We must reconnect with nature and learn to live within its limits if we are to survive and thrive on this beautiful planet.”
How can we change this mindset?
The good news is that in recent years, companies that have developed purpose-driven values and strong environmental standards, such as Intrepid, G Adventures and Explore, for example, are seeing better profitability, stronger and sustainable financial performance, and happier employees.
Proof that you can still profit in business while doing good for universal benefit. Why can’t all businesses operate like this?
By shifting our mindset from treating the Earth as a commodity to understanding that we are all a vital part of its ecosystem, we can start to place a bigger focus on sustainability, conservation, and responsible stewardship in travel.
This involves thinking about how our actions, no matter how big or small, affect the environment and creating options that safeguard the Earth’s health and well-being, not just for us but also for future generations.
Already, there are so many individuals and companies in travel who are investing in the planet and making changes now for the long-term good. They are doing incredible things.
So what can we learn from them? How can we work together to table the challenges we all face, create solutions and act to create a groundswell of change?
The climate does not care who leads the race to stop our planet from warming to critical levels – we must act collectively to prevent it.
As the co-founder of Intrepid, Darrell Wade, says, “The time for talking is over. We must act now, we must act together, and we must work together if we’re going to have a hope in hell of pulling this off.”
Ready to get started?
Here are some useful links to get you going including some of the causes we fund and support at Karryon and Travel to change the world.
- Read the book and get inspired daily by The Carbon Almanac: www.thecarbonalmanac.org
- 52 ways to make a difference every day: www.earthday.org/earth-day-tips
- Karryon offsets all our travels and more via: www.ecologi.com
- Karryon funds and supports: www.welcometocountry.com
- Karryon funds and supports: www.rainforest-alliance.org
- Karryon funds and supports: www.seashepherd.org.au
- Sign the Glasgow Declaration: www.oneplanetnetwork.org/programmes/sustainable-tourism/glasgow-declaration
- Download Intrepid’s Blueprint document for carbon measurement for tour operators: www.intrepidtravel.com/au/download-our-carbon-measurement-blueprint-for-tour-operators
- Become a B-Corp business: www.bcorporation.com.au
- Discover The Great Global Cleanup/End Plastic Pollution
- Get involved in Earth Day here: www.earthday.org/earth-day-2023
This Earth Day, I’m excited to be attending the Council of Tour Operators’ (CATO) sustainability event in Brisbane.