How to travel sustainably: Getting there by plane, train and boat

Often, when traveling long distances, flying may be the only reasonable option to get to your destination, but the aviation industry is responsible for emitting harmful emissions into the atmosphere. (According to one 2016 study, every metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent shrinks the ice cover in the Arctic by three square meters, or 32 square feet.)

If you need to fly

Planes expend a significant amount of fuel just reaching altitude and descending, so the shorter the distance you fly, the less efficient, said Bryan Comer, a senior researcher with the International Council on Clean Transportation. This is worth considering when traveling shorter distances you could reach by other means.

Are boats better?

Cruise ships may seem like a good alternative, but they can be even more polluting, say experts. According to one 2017 study, even the most efficient cruise ships emit between three to four times more carbon dioxide per passenger per kilometer than commercial flights. Ships also usually burn the lowest-quality and most polluting kind of fuel. There are other reasons to avoid cruise ships — for example, when visiting sensitive destinations like Venice, where the boats can dominate the skyline, crowd the city and even cause large waves that some say have contributed to the erosion of the islands.

By train

By most accounts, trains as a form of travel emit the lowest

There are other reasons to avoid cruise ships — for example, when visiting sensitive destinations like Venice, where the boats can dominate the skyline, crowd the city and even cause large waves that some say have contributed to the erosion of the islands.

levels of greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants, whether they are electric or dieselpowered. They also offer an opportunity for slow travel: Take in the landscape, read a book, and arrive at your destination refreshed and ready to explore.

Eri Noland / Associated Press Passengers gather in the Sightseer Lounge aboard Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train in 2005, in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Steve Johnson / Getty Images A large public transportation network, in concert with other sustainability efforts, could reduce our carbon footprint by 24 percent, significantly reduce our oil consumption, save us money, reduce our travel time and its associated stress, and improve our overall health.