The World's Most Eco-friendly Beach Destinations | Environment 911

We've rounded up three sustainable beaches you can visit responsibly

Remember travel? We sure do. Yet as we think about planning to explore our incredible planet again—either within our provinces and states, or abroad as borders slowly reopen and restrictions lift internationally—sustainability is at the forefront of our minds (and if it’s not, it should be). As the cool weather sets in, sunny beach days are top of mind. But how can we travel to our favourite beaches sustainably?

According to the Adventure Travel Trade Association, tourism is responsible for eight percent of total global emissions, actively contributing to global warming. The year 2020 marked a new decade for our planet, the beginning of a 10-year window of opportunity to make impactful changes to avoid potentially irreversible damage from climate change.

Now more than ever, travelling sustainably is not just a fad or something to consider—it’s essential. Human activity is the dominant influence on the climate and our environment. And if we’ve learned anything from this global pandemic, it’s that the impact travel has on the planet is tangible—air travel, over-tourism, big ship cruising—are all taking a massive toll. Since access to air and boat travel has been limited, the canals of Venice have filled with sea life as cruise ships frequent the waters less, and the smog over parts of China has lifted, as seen from space.

While staying close to home might be the best thing for the environment—most of us won’t ever stop travelling. If anything, being forced to stay home and explore from the comfort of our couches has created an even greater inclination to see the world. Plus, sustainability isn’t only about carbon emissions, we also need to consider the economy. Tourism is a huge contributor to many countries’ economies. The travel industry accounted for 10 percent of the total global GDP in 2019 and was worth $9 trillion according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. So where should we travel to catch some rays sustainably?

Many coastal and island nations—which usually have few natural resources beyond their beaches and beautiful views—rely heavily on tourism. They are also the most susceptible to climate change and are vulnerable to things like extreme weather, coral bleaching and soil salinization. In places like the Maldives, tourism contributes to more than a third of the GDP. In Belize, it’s 15 percent; in Malta 15 percent; in Fiji 14 percent; and in Iceland 8.6 percent. According to Statista, Mexico is the most vulnerable of the world's largest economies with 15.5 percent of its GDP relying on the travel and tourism industry. Mexico is closely followed by Spain and Italy who have opened their borders to EU countries and a select list of countries. Sicily is trying to lure tourists by offering to pay for flights. Cancun has a campaign offering two free nights of accommodation for every two nights paid.

Read the full story on Environment 911 here