We can’t just focus on negative effects of travel.
Every environmentalist has probably heard the age-old clap back from climate deniers: “But you travel, so you’re not really an environmentalist.”
It’s the go-to for when they can’t find anything else to criticize you about, but want to show that no one is really actually trying to save the planet so they don’t have to change any of their habits.
This argument is maddening for a variety of reasons.
First of all, whataboutism is keeping the movement from making larger strides, and it allows people to think that since no one is perfect, no one should even try.
Secondly, sustainable travel is not generally accessible to the average person, so if environmentalists want to see the planet that they are trying to save, they generally have to fly or drive for at least part of their trip (especially if they plan on any trans-continental travel).
This uses fossil fuels, and while that may sound horrible or “hypocritical”, again, there aren’t other affordable options if one wants to travel at all.
Not everyone can charter a solar-powered sailboat or take off an extra month to travel in more old-fashioned ways.
It’s unrealistic to think the average person can completely swear off fossil fuels, and it’s regressive and elitist to say that …
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