Carbon reduction news articles from responsible tourism, including news on carbon taxation, low-carbon transport options, carbon off-setting and reducing carbon emissions.
Austria's renewable energy capital - Tirol
The Austrian alpine state of Tirol is fast becoming one of Europe's greenest destinations. As well as being a popular ski spot (according to the Innsbruck Tourist Board the region received more than 8 million visitors in 2007) Tirol is home to a number of hotels and restaurants that utilise renewable energy. An incentive encourages operators to employ eco-friendly practices such as sourcing renewable energy, ecologically disposing of waste and maintaining unpolluted grounds.
Read more on Austria's renewable energy
Green skies or green wash?
Several airlines, together responsible for about 15 per cent of total commercial jet fuel use, have committed this week to a more sustainable future, pledging to make positive steps toward developing biofuel use. However, earlier this year a highly-publicised Virgin Atlantic flight using a small proportion of biofuel was dismissed by leading environmental groups as "high-altitude greenwash".
Read more on green skies or green wash?
Rail journeys on track for record bookings in 2009
Booking trends show that Brits are looking for alternatives to travelling by road and air. Instead of fuel charge concerns and the credit crunch, Brits are now rediscovering the romance, ease and environmental friendly nature of rail travel. Travelsphere has reported a marked increase in bookings for rail holidays in 2008 and predicts that 2009 will be the year of the rail holiday, heralding a new era in train travel.
Read more on rail journeys
Responsible tourism in the UK
The truth is, going on holiday is rarely environmentally sound. Just by flying out of the country your personal contribution to global warming goes way up. Stay in the UK and you are already picking up the greenie points. But travelling responsibly is not simply a case of reducing pollution. Minimising environmental damage, supporting local economies and being sensitive to cultural differences is as relevant to a trip through the English countryside as a visit to a Costa Rican rainforest.
Read more on responsible tourism in the UK
Air passenger duty
Changing the air passenger duty so it’s charged per flight rather than passenger makes sense. Previously if a plane took off with just one passenger it would attract a tiny duty but still emit large amounts of carbon. This way the airlines will be encouraged to fly fuller planes (which is good as fewer flights in total might be required). However, the industry is rightly annoyed that it’s paying vast sums under a so called ‘green tax’ and does not know what the money is being used for.
Read more on air passenger duty
The Austrian alpine state of Tirol is fast becoming one of Europe's greenest destinations. As well as being a popular ski spot (according to the Innsbruck Tourist Board the region received more than 8 million visitors in 2007) Tirol is home to a number of hotels and restaurants that utilise renewable energy. An incentive encourages operators to employ eco-friendly practices such as sourcing renewable energy, ecologically disposing of waste and maintaining unpolluted grounds.
Read more on 
Several airlines, together responsible for about 15 per cent of total commercial jet fuel use, have committed this week to a more sustainable future, pledging to make positive steps toward developing biofuel use. However, earlier this year a highly-publicised Virgin Atlantic flight using a small proportion of biofuel was dismissed by leading environmental groups as "high-altitude greenwash".
Read more on 
Booking trends show that Brits are looking for alternatives to travelling by road and air. Instead of fuel charge concerns and the credit crunch, Brits are now rediscovering the romance, ease and environmental friendly nature of rail travel. Travelsphere has reported a marked increase in bookings for rail holidays in 2008 and predicts that 2009 will be the year of the rail holiday, heralding a new era in train travel.
Read more on 
The truth is, going on holiday is rarely environmentally sound. Just by flying out of the country your personal contribution to global warming goes way up. Stay in the UK and you are already picking up the greenie points. But travelling responsibly is not simply a case of reducing pollution. Minimising environmental damage, supporting local economies and being sensitive to cultural differences is as relevant to a trip through the English countryside as a visit to a Costa Rican rainforest.
Read more on 
Changing the air passenger duty so it’s charged per flight rather than passenger makes sense. Previously if a plane took off with just one passenger it would attract a tiny duty but still emit large amounts of carbon. This way the airlines will be encouraged to fly fuller planes (which is good as fewer flights in total might be required). However, the industry is rightly annoyed that it’s paying vast sums under a so called ‘green tax’ and does not know what the money is being used for.
Read more on 
