by Across the Pacific, island nations are leaning into tourism to restart their economies after the pandemic. But tourists cause significant emissions of greenhouse gases and waves of waste: major threats to the islands.
Experts have advice on how tourists can limit these impacts on their holidays. They recognize that while systemic change is needed to prevent the worst effects of climate change, individual impact is still important. And they believe that a few small changes in mindset can make a difference – without interrupting a journey.
The closer the better
The most important decisions tourists make are where to go and how to travel.
“Travel closer to home,” says Apisalome Movono, senior lecturer in development studies at Massey University in New Zealand. “Don’t go to Europe, come to the Pacific.”
Related: The cost of paradise: Pacific islands changing the future of tourism
The closer the destination, the lower the emissions to be achieved. For tourists from Australia, traveling to New Caledonia will be more environmentally friendly than French Polynesia. Meanwhile, a New Holder could choose to travel to the Cook Islands instead of Hawaii.
The cruise industry produces significant emissions; one study in 2019 daily said that a cruise ship could have a carbon footprint of more than 12,000 cars. “The monsters in the room are cruise ships,” says Movono. “These are the big exporters in our region.”
Tourists can also reduce their impact by choosing certain types of aircraft or by traveling economy class. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has a useful calculator that compares the carbon impact of different journeys. Based on data shared by airlines, the calculator tracks the level of emissions output by aircraft model, cargo, plane configuration and whether a traveler goes to economy or business class.
“When flying is unavoidable, economy class travel is significantly less carbon intensive than business class,” says Christian Schott, associate professor of tourism at Victoria University of Wellington.
This is mainly because business class passengers take up more space than those in economy, making flights less efficient. “For one person traveling in business class produces on average 3.5 times more CO2 emissions than in economy class,” says Schott.
Do offset schemes work?
Many airlines and cruise companies offer carbon offsets for climate-conscious travelers. But the effectiveness of these schemes has been questioned. Analysis shows that many international carbon offset projects exaggerate their impact and underestimate the potential harms.
Often, Movono says, “with the data coming out of these offset schemes, there’s no follow-up” to make sure promised reductions are happening. Accordingly, he says, the best way to reliably address travel emissions is to reduce them by taking smaller, shorter flights.
If tourists use offsets, Movono encourages them to verify their reliability. Schott says visitors should seek out trusted local companies that give back to communities.
Related: ‘First line of defence’: mangroves – and mitigation – lost in Fiji’s tourism development
Minimize your footprint
Once a tourist has arrived in the Pacific Ocean, there are many ways to limit their footprint.
“I have a young family: I know that big hotels are great and easy,” says Kalara McGregor, a sustainability consultant and doctoral candidate in sustainable tourism at Griffith University. But she encourages tourists to look at smaller hotels or tourism operators that don’t have “all the advantages and features of home”, such as air conditioning, swimming pools, or hot showers, all of which consume large amounts of energy and water.
For many tourists, cutting out those facilities may be a stretch. Movono points to other indulgences that are easier to eliminate, such as imported food, which create significant emissions when flown or shipped in.
“Try the local cuisine,” he says. “It blows my mind when someone comes all the way from New Zealand [to a Pacific island] to enjoy New Zealand lamb shank.”
Schott says tourists can look to avoid taxis or hire cars, which can significantly increase their environmental footprint. Many islands are small enough to travel around on foot or by bike, while the larger islands often have efficient travel options that give tourists a more authentic experience.
“In Vanuatu, taxis are shared. You might share the taxi with five or six other people, but it’s a much more sustainable way to get around,” says Schott. Meanwhile, “In Fiji they have great buses going around many of the big islands.”
Be more careful about waste
Many Pacific Islands are fighting to control waste. Because of its size, there are not many places to dispose of this garbage. Since they have to import so many goods, the flow of trash continues to grow.
“That waste problem is a big issue,” says McGregor. “But the assumption is that’s what the tourist wants, so we have to provide that.”
As a result, she says, “tourists need to be open to not having everything wrapped in plastic, and asking for water bubbles (and) … locally made crafts over cheap imported trinkets.”
Related: Paradise shared: French Polynesia wrestles with the lure of mass cruise tourism
Overall, McGregor encourages tourists to be proactive about what they use and throw away. “Do you need to have twenty bottles of water today, or could you bring a bottle of water with you?”
Make it count
Basically, Movono stressed, tourism causes emissions. “It’s a bit of an oxymoron to give advice about being environmentally conscious,” he says of tourists. In light of this, he encourages travelers to focus on maximizing the economic benefit from their carbon impact.
For example, he encourages tourists to “look beyond Denarau”, a major resort in Fiji. By supporting locally owned tourism operators, who are more likely to use local staff and supplies, or travel to less frequented locations such as Fiji’s Vanua Levu island, tourists are “putting money in people’s pockets,” says Movono, “because the economy is bigger. Circular.”
“You’ve made a big trip and you’ve generated those emissions to get there,” agrees McGregor. “When you’re there, it’s more of a mindset change: what can I do to give back?”
