Tourism is responsible for generating nearly one in every 11 tons of the world’s greenhouse gases. A 2024 study in Nature Communications revealed that the tourism sector produced approximately 5.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019, accounting for 8.8% of global emissions. The sector’s emissions grew by 3.5% annually from 2009 to 2019, outpacing the growth of the global economy.
Tourist numbers continue to rise. UN Tourism reported a record 1.52 billion international arrivals in 2025, a 4% increase from 2024, significantly surpassing the 1.4 billion in 2018. Encouragingly, travelers can directly influence the primary sources of travel emissions, and data now quantifies the impact of each choice.
1. Choose Your Transportation — the Biggest Lever You Control
The mode of transportation you select greatly influences your trip’s environmental impact. Data from Our World in Data, based on U.K. government emissions factors, highlights the substantial differences in carbon emissions across various travel modes:
| Travel mode | Grams CO2e per passenger-km | Vs. a domestic flight |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic flight | 246 | — |
| Gasoline car, driver alone | 170 | 31% less |
| Short-haul international flight | 154 | 37% less |
| National rail | 35 | 86% less |
| Eurostar (electric high-speed rail) | 4 | 98% less |
| Source: Our World in Data, based on U.K. Department for Energy Security and Net Zero conversion factors. Figures include the added warming effect of aviation emissions at altitude. | ||
For those choosing air travel, there are three ways to minimize your impact:
Opt for direct flights to eliminate additional fuel-burning takeoffs and climbs. Choose economy over premium seating, as the International Council on Clean Transportation notes premium seats generate 2.6 to 4.3 times more CO2 due to space usage. Upon arrival, opt for public transit, walking, or biking instead of renting a car to further reduce your carbon footprint.
2. Bring a Reusable Water Bottle — Because Two of Every Three Bottles You’d Buy Become Waste
The UN Environment Programme reports that 1 million plastic bottles are purchased every minute worldwide, with travelers often contributing to this figure. In 2024, the National Association for PET Container Resources noted that only 30.2% of PET bottles were recycled in the U.S., meaning the majority end up as waste. Carrying a reusable water bottle helps avoid this waste and can save you from high airport water prices. In places with non-potable water, consider bottles with built-in filters or purifiers.
3. Use Reef-Friendly Sunscreen — Up to 6,000 Tons Wash Into U.S. Reef Areas Each Year
The National Park Service estimates that 6,000 tons of sunscreen enter U.S. reef areas annually. A 2022 Stanford study published in Science highlighted the harmful effects of oxybenzone, a UV filter that becomes toxic in sunlight, on stressed corals. NOAA research at Hanauma Bay found sunscreen pollution can persist for days. Regulations are adapting; Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau, and Bonaire have restrictions, while Maui County permits only mineral sunscreens. Since “reef safe” lacks a standardized label, check for non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and avoid oxybenzone and octinoxate when swimming.
4. Eat Local — for Your Plate’s Sake and the Community’s
By dining at local markets, street stands, and eateries, you support the local economy and experience the culture. Although “local food equals low carbon” is oversimplified, Our World in Data reveals transport accounts for just 5% of food emissions because most food is shipped. The type of food matters more; beef production emits significantly more greenhouse gases than peas. Eating local and in-season helps avoid air-freighted perishables, which have a much larger carbon footprint.
5. Treat Your Hotel Room Like You Pay Its Utility Bill
The U.S. Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR program indicates that heating and cooling represent almost 40% of electricity and over half of natural gas use in U.S. hotels. Rooms are often empty for 12 hours daily, yet air conditioning remains on. Adjusting thermostats and turning off lights when leaving are effective habits, especially in fossil fuel-dependent regions. Also, reuse towels, skip daily linen changes, and dispose of trash in public cans to reduce waste.
6. Slow Down and Stay Longer
Longer stays can reduce the carbon footprint per vacation day, as one 10-day trip is more efficient than multiple short ones. The 2024 tourism-emissions study identifies the growth of long-haul flights as a challenge for climate goals. Opting for fewer, extended trips closer to home, such as in the Pacific Northwest, offers more value for the carbon cost.
Before You Go: A Quick Checklist
- Book direct flights in economy or take the train where routes allow.
- Pack a reusable water bottle (and filter, if needed) and a mineral-based, non-nano zinc oxide sunscreen.
- Plan one longer trip instead of several short flights.
- At the hotel: set back the AC when you leave, reuse towels, decline daily housekeeping.
- Eat what’s local and in season; go easy on beef and air-freighted produce.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on June 2, 2015, and was most recently updated in July 2026.
