Great Reset By Marc Morano – Chapter 12 Excerpt: ‘COVID Lockdowns Morph to Climate Lockdowns’
The summer of 2023 was significant for the travel industry as international tourist arrivals globally reached 84% of pre-pandemic levels. However, the positive economic impact comes at a cost, with dire environmental and social consequences already surfacing. The tourism sector itself contributes to about one-tenth of the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving the climate crisis.
In a report analyzing the future of sustainable travel, tour operator Intrepid Travel proposed the implementation of carbon passports as a means to regulate and limit travel. A carbon passport would assign each traveler a yearly carbon allowance, which they cannot exceed, effectively rationing their travel.
While the concept may seem extreme, the idea of personal carbon allowances is not entirely new. A similar concept called personal carbon trading was discussed by the UK Parliament in 2008 but was abandoned due to perceived complexity and possible public resistance.
The current average annual carbon footprint for an individual in the US stands at 16 tons, one of the highest rates globally. In the UK, it sits at 11.7 tons, still more than five times the figure recommended by the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise. To stay below a 1.5 Celsius increase, the average global carbon footprint needs to reduce to under two tons by 2050, roughly equivalent to two roundtrip flights between London and New York.
Intrepid Travel’s report predicts that carbon passports could become a reality by 2040. However, recent developments suggest that changes to travel habits may be imminent. Over the past year, several countries have implemented laws and restrictions aimed at reducing air travel emissions. Belgium has increased taxes for passengers on short-haul flights and older aircraft to promote alternative modes of transportation. France has banned short-haul domestic flights if the same trip can be completed by train within two-and-a-half hours or less. Spain is expected to follow suit, with Germany also considering similar measures.
Air travel is not the only focus of concern. A 2023 investigation by the European Federation for Transport and Environment discovered that cruise ships emit four times as many sulphuric gases into the atmosphere as Europe’s 291 million cars combined. This significantly contributes to acid rain and various respiratory conditions.
As destinations worldwide struggle to manage crowds and pollution, calls for limiting tourist numbers are growing. Barcelona, the Italian Riviera, and even Mount Everest are among the locations urging a change in travel habits.
With the potential introduction of carbon passports and ongoing efforts to reduce the environmental impact of travel, future vacationers should prepare for changes to their travel routines. The era of unrestricted mass tourism may be coming to an end.
Ross Bennett-Cook is a visiting lecturer at the School of Architecture + Cities, University of Westminster.
Sources:
CNN Travel: It’s time to limit how often we can travel abroad – ‘carbon passports’ may be the answer
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/carbon-passports-explainer/index.html
