Traveling and the things that go with it – flights, hotel rooms, cab rides, and rental cars – can mean significant damage to the environment and the biodiversity it holds. So the next time you go on vacation or need to take a business trip, consider ways you can cut down on carbon emissions.

• Going on vacation? Choose accredited ecotourism companies and destinations. You can also check out some programs that CI recommends, which are linked to the places we work. Our recommendations go toward supporting local communities and conserving critical biological diversity.

CHECKLIST: Ask these ten questions of your tour or trip operator.

• Reduce the impact of air travel by flying direct (a larger percentage of carbon given off by airline flights are emitted during take off and landing) or taking the train.
• Can your business meeting be conducted with cameras and computers rather than face to face? Consider investing in remote meeting tools and think about the money you would save on airline tickets and hotel rooms.
• If you must fly, take advantage of airlines that are becoming more green. United Airlines has been partnering with CI since 1998 on conservation efforts.
• If you have to rent a car, ask for a hybrid or a flexfuel vehicle. Major rental companies have more than 4,000 hybrids around the country and will be giving their customers the option of offsetting their carbon beginning January 2008.
• Stay in hotels that have an environmental management strategy. At check-in, request that your sheets and towels are not changed unless left on the floor, that your recyclables are properly recycled, and that air conditioning is left off when you’re not in the room. At check-out, leave a comment card to let the management know whether your requests were satisfied and praise successful efforts to be green. CI has worked with Marriott International, Inc. on environmentally responsible hotel management.

You can also be a green consumer. >>