Traveling the Green Way

Even the Vatican is encouraging tourists to ‘travel green’ these summer holidays.

The Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, in a message aimed for World Tourism Day (Sept. 27), said that travelers have to make choices regarding their travel habits. They can either “contribute toward the preservation of life on our planet and slow down the process of climate change” or they can pursue “a kind of insane narcissism” that selfishly ignores recognizing the earth “is at risk of destruction…”

The council suggests that tourists should…

• make sure their rubbish is adequately disposed (of)
• try to “eat more eco-friendly meals
• plant trees to neutralize the polluting effects of our journeys
• choose local handicrafts rather than more costly and poisonous items
• make use of recyclable and biodegradable materials
• pack less luggage
• leave the car at home and walk

Vatican City, by the way, is green. It has zero carbon dioxide emissions thanks to the creation the Vatican Climate Forest in Hungary. And it has fitted solar panels in the Paul VI audience hall which will produce a great deal of electricity used by the Vatican.

(source)