SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Carbon Balance
In recent times, much has been written about the contribution of global air travel to carbon dioxide emissions and the corresponding effects on climate change. We recognise that this is an often unavoidable consequence of international tourism but do not accept that a prohibition on air travel is a realistic solution.
Tourism is the world's single biggest industry and putting an end to all international visits would have a disastrous impact on global economies and world-wide poverty. While this may not seem so relevant to the UK, the lifeblood of the Highlands and Islands is tourism and it's sustainable future depends upon economic success in this sector.
Prohibiting air travel is not, in our view, a credible option. Nor is it realistic to expect the tourism industry to single-handedly reverse climate change. Our preferred strategy is therefore based upon the following actions:-
- To focus our trips on those parts of Scotland where tourism will deliver positive socio-economic and environmental benefits.
- To encourage clients to access the start/end point of our trips by public transport (the meeting point for all of our group holidays is at train stations)
- To deliver a low carbon holiday experience, relating to the activity, transportation, accommodation and other services used.
- To elsewhere reduce our energy consumption and consequent carbon emissions throughout our business, wherever possible.
- To financially offset by 110% all carbon emissions which are generated by the company.
- To make our clients aware of these issues and to encourage them to offset their own carbon emissions arising from air travel (see below).
Our hope is that if many businesses, irrespective of the type of industry, choose to adopt the same approach, we can make a significant step towards tackling climate change in a realistic way.
Climate Change Scotland - Offsetting Emissions
Climate Change Scotland is a world-first tourism destination based initiative to tackling climate change. We are proud to have been involved in its conception and development and lend full support to its objectives.
The purpose of Climate Change Scotland is, first and foremost, to promote responsibility on this issue and to stimulate tourism businesses in Scotland to reducing their direct and indirect carbon emissions. In addition to these efforts, Climate Change Scotland also provides the facility for businesses to offset their remaining carbon emissions by making a financial payment to a non-profit generating organisation.
The emissions generated and the subsequent payment paid is calculated on the basis of the most robust science available and has the international support of many highly respected bodies including the United Nations. All payments received will be invested in carbon-reduction and sustainable development projects in Scotland. Climate Change Scotland already has the support of many businesses and individuals throughout the country and we hope that it will become the biggest initative of its type worldwide.
All payments made by Wilderness Scotland to offset our residual carbon emissions are made to Climate Change Scotland.
In the next 12 months, it is hoped that an online facility will be available for visitors to Scotland to offset the carbon emissions arising from travel in the same way. As soon as it is, we will be providing this facility to our clients.
Please see their website for further details.
