Have you changed the way you travel for sustainable reasons?
‘Whether or not sustainable travel is possible is a question I have considered deeply. On the one hand, travel has so many positive societal benefits – allowing us to shift our perspectives, learn from other cultures, bring important economic benefits to communities. But tourism has, of course, a large and growing carbon footprint. I have a wanderer’s spirit – I grew up with stories of my parents hitch-hiking and sailing around the world – and was always itching to go exploring myself. I try to choose environmentally minded hotels. But the main change I’ve made is in relation to duration. Call it slow travel. I’ve tried to apply the mantra used for consumerism of buying less but better. So I take fewer trips, but I make them longer. I haven’t completely ruled out flying, but if I can avoid getting on a plane I will, and then the journey becomes part of the experience.’