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Tribune News Service

In 2025, the Earth reached the first of six progressively worse “climate tipping points”, which scientists say pose catastrophic risk to billions of people.
The tipping point we have already reached is the dieback of warm-water coral reefs. Loss of those reefs threatens the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people who depend on them, according to The Global Tipping Points Report 2025, which was produced by 160 scientists from 23 countries.
In addition to providing critical habitats for marine species (coral reefs are home to more than 25 per cent of all marine life), more than 500 million people or nearly 8 per cent of the world’s population depend on coral reefs directly in terms of coastal protection, fisheries, resources and tourism.
The Earth may have crossed a second tipping point as well: the melting of polar ice sheets. If that is true, it could trigger several metres of irreversible sea-level rise, affecting millions of people.
Additional tipping points include the collapse of the Atlantic Ocean’s major circulation systems, the retreat of mountain glaciers and the dieback of the Amazon forest.
The key point the report makes is this: every fraction of additional global warming increases the risk of triggering further tipping points. And that could cause incalculable damage to the Earth.
Before you despair, however, the same report offers ample reason for hope. It points out that while science shows ecosystems are approaching dangerous thresholds, science also highlights the “extraordinary potential of positive tipping points”.
In other words, shifts in policies, technologies and behaviours can still bring about meaningful change.
And that is where you, the traveller, come in.

When you travel in 2026, you can do so more thoughtfully, with an eye towards increasing your efforts to be a sustainable traveller.
Equally importantly, being a sustainable traveller does not have to be difficult, expensive or onerous. Simple shifts in your hotel, transport and food choices, to name just a few, can indeed have an impact.
As the primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall once said: “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
To help you kick-start the process and make 2026 the year you earn your sustainable traveller badge, we have rounded up six easy-to-implement tips with a meaningful impact.
1. Opt for low-density destinations and avoid peak season

Mass tourism is a significant challenge across the globe, particularly in hotspots such as Venice, Rome and Barcelona. And that is bad for the planet because it puts “services, water supplies and overall footprint under stress”, says Jorge Salas-Guevara, founder of United States-based New Paths Expedition, who has decades of hands-on leadership in expedition travel and conservation.
But as a traveller, you can bring about change on this front when booking and planning holidays.
“Travellers can make a meaningful difference by selecting less-visited destinations or by choosing shoulder seasons for their travel,” Salas-Guevara says.
Making this simple shift in your travel planning can help reduce the impact on a destination. It can also “prevent wildlife from being stressed by too many tourists competing for limited viewing opportunities”, Salas-Guevara says.
There is an added bonus for you as the traveller: visiting a less crowded destination means you are more likely to have a better experience overall.
This is especially true during shoulder seasons (the period between peak and off-peak seasons), when the weather is often cooler and more pleasant, prices tend to be lower and services improve.
2. Select hotels that are eco-certified
Another easy step you can take during travel planning is to look for hotels and resorts that are actively engaged in sustainability efforts.
One of the most reliable ways to assess a hotel’s sustainability practices is to look for third-party certifications such as EarthCheck, a globally recognised standards and certification programme for hotels and resorts, says Sonia Singh of Los Angeles, California-based Yatri Travel Planner.
“Travellers can review a property’s EarthCheck profile to understand performance across energy use, water conservation, waste management, biodiversity and community engagement,” Singh says.

That said, a lack of certification does not automatically mean a hotel is not committed to sustainability. Some properties prioritise action over formal reporting and often make their sustainability programmes and efforts clear on their websites.
3. Make your spending part of the solution
Where you spend your money matters when travelling. When booking accommodation or tours, seek out companies that can point to real, on-the-ground actions like local hiring, long-term community partnerships, thoughtful route design and efforts to protect cultural and natural resources, says Jennifer Allison, product operations manager at VBT and Country Walkers, and a member of the organisation’s Sustainable Travel Committee.
“While travelling, choose locally-owned hotels, family-run restaurants and independent shops whenever possible,” Allison says. “These choices help keep tourism dollars in the community and support the people who live there year-round.”
Richard Krieger, the director of Sky Vacations, stresses the importance of buying local when you are globetrotting.
“Choose local, handmade, artisan items over mass-produced souvenirs and support smaller, family-run shops,” Krieger says.
4. Dine where food is sourced

Dining is a cornerstone of many travellers’ journeys, and when you are deciding where to eat, menus and restaurants that emphasise locally sourced food can go a long way towards helping the planet.
“It’s a wonderful way to be sustainable and healthy,” Krieger says. “You help reduce food transport emissions, help preserve local traditions and are bound to have an authentic dining experience.”
5. Make sustainable transport choices whenever possible

While exploring a destination by private car is convenient, it is not the most eco-friendly option. Travellers can reduce their carbon footprint by opting for walking tours, using local transport or renting e-bikes.
Each offers a great way “to connect with a place and its people, and greatly reduce environmental stress of traditional cars,” Krieger says. “And for those who want to stick with a private car experience, request EVs as a first choice.”
6. Go beyond sustainability, be regenerative
As a traveller exploring the world at this critical point in history, avoiding harming destinations is only part of the goal. It is better to leave the places in a better condition than when you arrived.
This is known as regenerative travel and it is what many responsible travel operators are working towards. It is also what both organised tour participants and independent travellers should strive for, Salas-Guevara says.
“There are many ways to do this. Travellers can choose service providers based on their regenerative practices, such as the involvement of local community members as part of their teams, providing education and career opportunities, and directly contributing to the restoration of ecosystems and long-term resilience,” Salas-Guevara says.
Independent travellers can also join local initiatives while exploring destinations, such as reforestation projects, wildlife monitoring programmes, conservation activities, community-led cultural programmes or educational initiatives that support local schools or training efforts.
“Regenerative travel is the goal today,” Salas-Guevara says. “We can all be part of making the destinations we visit healthier, stronger and more self-sufficient than before our visit.”


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Tourism

6 sustainable travel tips to make your 2026 holiday more climate-friendly

As the Earth reaches a “climate tipping point”, we all need to think about how our holidays affect the environment. Photo: TNS

A beach in Essaouira, Morocco. Shifts in tourist behaviours – from travelling off-season to avoiding motorised transport – can have a positive impact on the planet. Photo: Getty Images

Avoid the crowds and stay in a low-density destination for a more relaxing break. Photo: Shutterstock

Eco Dome accommodation at the eco-friendly Coco Journey in Malacca, Malaysia. Look for hotels that are committed to sustainability. Photo: thecocojourney.com

Eating locally sourced food has a smaller carbon footprint and supports local producers. Photo: Getty Images

A tourist in a tea plantation in Sao Miguel, Azores. Walking tours help lower travellers’ carbon footprints. Photo: Getty Images

Taste Sweden’s delicious sustainable ‘blue food’ fresh from the sea on boat tours

FILED - Blue, or aquatic, foods hold support diets that are healthy, sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient. Here, Per Karlsson prepares to serve up Swedish treats from the sea. Photo: Sabine Glaubitz/dpa-tmn - ATTENTION: editorial use only in connection with the aforementioned text

Linnéa Sjögren holds up freshly harvested seaweed in Smögen, Sweden. Sweden’s west coast is a treasure trove of “blue food” – sustainable aquatic produce. Photo: Sabine Glaubitz/dpa-tmn

Signe takes visitors on various “blue food” tours along Sweden’s west coast. Photo: Sabine Glaubitz/dpa-tmn

Fisherman Per Karlsson prepares to serve up Swedish treats from the sea onboard the Signe. Photo: Sabine Glaubitz/dpa-tmn

The colourful wooden houses of Smögen on Sweden’s west coast. Photo: Sabine Glaubitz/dpa-tmn

2026 travel trends: astrotourism, nostalgia trips and even more solo holidays

Cruise tourists on their way to visit the city of Palma in Mallorca after disembarking at the port. A growing awareness of overtourism is expected to shape holiday decisions in the coming years. Photo: Clara Margais/dpa

Astrotourism has become a global travel industry trend in recent years and is set to become even bigger in 2026 as we build up to the total solar eclipse on August 12. Photo: Sandra Demmelhuber/dpa

Locals lead a community travel experience in Botswana. Travellers are looking to trade tourist traps and traditional sightseeing for more authentic experiences that avoid overcrowded hotspots. Photo: Natural Selection/Press Association/dpa

Whether it is because more people are choosing to stay single or deciding they do not want to wait for friends or partners to be free to travel with, solo holidays are on the rise. Photo: Moritz Frankenberg/dpa

Cruise tourists visit the city of Palma in Mallorca after disembarking at the port. A growing awareness of overtourism is expected to shape holiday decisions in the coming years. Photo: Clara Margais/dpa

New permanent Sailor Moon theatre in Tokyo promises magical experiences for global fans

A Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live performance in London during a 2025 tour. A new permanent Sailor Moon theatre opens in Tokyo this April. Photo: Kyodo

A Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live performance in the United States during a 2025 tour. Photo: Kyodo

A Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon manhole cover in Tokyo’s Minato Ward. Photo: Kyodo

Brooke, co-founder of the Sailor Moon Fan Network, poses with her large collection of merchandise. Photo: Kyodo

Vietnam bans vapes, will fine tourists up to US$78 and jail e-cigarette traders, producers

Vietnam has announced a ban on the sale and use of vapes. Photo: Shutterstock

A man smokes a disposable vape. Tourists caught vaping in Vietnam face a fine, while those found selling the e-cigarettes face much bigger fines and jail terms of up to 15 years. Photo: Reuters

Lifestyle

Travel & Leisure

Earth reached a ‘climate tipping point’ in 2025 and we all need to act to prevent more disasters. Here are six tips to travel sustainably


Earth reached a ‘climate tipping point’ in 2025 and we all need to act to prevent more disasters. Here are six tips to travel sustainably.


Responsible travel

Travel news and advice

6 sustainable travel tips to make your 2026 holiday more climate-friendly

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Earth reached a ‘climate tipping point’ in 2025 and we all need to act to prevent more disasters. Here are six tips to travel sustainably

Earth reached a ‘climate tipping point’ in 2025 and we all need to act to prevent more disasters. Here are six tips to travel sustainably