The sustainability of travel and the transportation sector in general is a growing concern. Transport alone accounts for 1/5 of carbon dioxide emissions (around 24%) and it will continue to grow as global population increases.
Traveling usually involves multiple modes of transportation from flying, trains, buses, and more. So, as a conscious traveler – what are some of the least environmentally impactful transportation options and how can we utilize them? I break down the most sustainable modes of transportation, so you can be mindful as you choose your method next time you travel.
Of course there is the environmental cost of sourcing, building, maintenance, recyclability, etc of these various transportation modes. I will solely focus on which modes of transportation are the most sustainable while using the final product. This is based on carbon and GHG emissions per person.
Most Sustainable to Least Sustainable
- Walking
- Biking
- E-Scooter
- Train
- Bus
- Motorcycle / moped
- Car
- Flying
- Cruise Ship
Walking
Walking is the best sustainable mode of transportation. It is the least harmful for the environment, as it just burns your own energy. Simply consider walking for your transport, you’ll save money while having a low ecological impact plus it’s great for your health.
Biking
Biking is an excellent way to explore an area while producing 0g of CO2. It gets you where you need to go in an efficient amount of time and again, is great for your health, your wallet, and the planet.
E-Scooter
E-scooters are a great in-between way to get around. They’re incredibly energy efficient and you can usually find them scattered all over urban areas, so they serve as convenient transport for many people. They create little to no carbon emissions compared to cars and other public transport. It’s a great swap next time you’re in a pinch. The downsides are that they are only designed for shorter trips and most are confined to the city limits.
Train
Regardless of an electric or diesel, trains are one of the best eco friendly ways to get around for the distance they get you. They emit 66-75% less carbon emissions compared to flying or driving. They are also both fast and efficient for a large number of people. A single commuter train that is heavily used can sustainably transport 9x as many people per hour for a single traffic lane of cars.
This can also go for trams, trolleys, cable cars, metros, or any public transport that has its own system of traffic.
Bus
Buses are more fuel intensive than trains, but FAR less fuel intensive than cars. Even though they can carry a large amount of people, they still share the roads with cars and burn just as much gas driving or stuck in traffic. Opting for a bus instead of a car when traveling is still a more sustainable option – so try it out. It’s a very economical way of travel too.
Motorcycle /moped
Motorcycles are definitely more fuel efficient than cars, but they are not always better for the environment. Even though they are smaller and simpler, motorcycles can still produce the same amount of emissions as a car and carry less people. However, all of this is highly dependent on what make and model motorcycle is being used and some argue they may be worse than cars.
Car
Diesel cars are one of the biggest urban polluters from the sheer amount on the roads and they can’t transport as many people as public transit. Carpooling and rideshares like Uber are a great way to reduce emissions if you are traveling by car.
Hybrid and electric cars are also a better alternative for less CO2 emissions. They are even better than buses in some cases!
Flying
There is no avoiding flying when traveling far distances. Flying is the most fuel intensive mode of transportation and planes give off the some of the most emissions. However, different airlines have different policies on fuel efficiency and limits to their carbon emissions – so you can check that when you book.
Most GHG emissions and fuel used are during take off and landing. So booking direct a flight is a huge way to reduce emissions when flying, they are also such a time saver – so it’s a win win.
However, out of the entire transportation sector, flying only produces around 13.6% of carbon while cars produce 72% of carbon per kilometer traveled.
Cruise Ship
These cruise ships aren’t your average ferry or river cruise. The cruises I’m referring to are like small floating cities that can weigh up to 200,000 gross tons (GT). Cruise ships emit CO2 and GHG’s but they also pollute, Sulfur Oxide (SOx), Black Carbon (BC) and heavy metals into both the air and ocean.
A cruise ship’s daily carbon emissions is around 700-1000 pounds. This is higher than flying, driving, or even a typical vacation on land.
To put this into perspective “ A five-night, 1,200-mile cruise results in about 1,100 lbs of CO2 emissions. In contrast, flying the same distance and staying in a hotel would emit a carbon footprint of 582 lbs of CO2 per person.”
Sailboat cruises and even all inclusive resorts are some more sustainable alternatives to your typical cruise.
The decarbonization of transportation has been slow. Although the EU is trying to do their part by reducing 90% of GHG emissions in the transportation sector by 2050.
What is your favorite mode of transportation when traveling?
