Climate change and environmental impact is a severe problem in today’s world. In our daily travel habits, we can make a real – if slight – difference in this regard. The transportation sector is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Together, we can reduce our carbon footprint and help create a greener planet by choosing to travel more sustainably. Whether commuting or long distance, you can do it eco-friendly. In this article, we’ll go into seven actionable strategies to make green choices that help the environment and green habits.

Whenever Possible, Choose Public Transportation

Public transportation is one of the most efficient ways to reduce individual carbon footprint. If you take the bus, train, or subway, you’re sharing the vehicle with others, resulting in fewer emissions per passenger than when driving by yourself in a car. Cities now have modern and energy-efficient public transit but run them, which makes commuting to work eco-friendly. Replacing personal vehicles for public transportation can cut greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 45 percent, making it a green choice for daily travel.

Drop Emissions by Sharing Rides Through Carpool and Rideshare.

Urban carpooling and ridesharing work to mitigate the environmental impact of your daily commute. Plus, sharing a ride with coworkers, friends, or neighbors means fewer cars on the road, causing traffic congestion and emissions. Companies like DPV Transportation provide environmentally friendly rideshare and shuttle service, making it easy to travel in a more earth-friendly manner. Should businesses and individuals select such services, they are contributing to lessening the carbon output of our whole community, which profits not only the environment but the built infrastructure of our cities.

Think You Can Bike or Walk Short Distances

Walking or biking not only keeps you healthy but also removes emissions entirely from those trips. Most of our trips to local stores, community centers, etc., are within walking or bikeable distance. When you select these options, your dependence on motorized transport, fuel consumption, and carbon footprint will be lower. Moreover, cities are becoming more bike-friendly worldwide, which is a better means of short-distance transportation.

Buy an Electric or Hybrid Vehicle

Swap to an electric or hybrid vehicle if you need a car to facilitate your lifestyle. Not only do electric vehicles (EVs) produce zero tailpipe emissions, but as renewable energy sources increase their share in powering the grid, the vehicles are becoming more and more eco-friendly. Hybrid cars, which use a blend between an engine and an electric motor, have lower emissions than traditional cars. While there is a higher upfront cost, government incentives and lower fuel costs can offset some of the costs, making this an almost financially feasible choice over time and an essential move toward reducing your carbon footprint.

Learn Efficient Driving Techniques

In addition, your driving habits can account for a significant part of fuel consumption and emissions. They waste fuel, so avoid rapid acceleration, excessive idling, and hard braking. Instead, drive in a smooth and consistent manner that doesn’t strain your car and increases your fuel efficiency. Successfully keeping the wheels turning steadily on the highways, using cruise control whenever possible, and proper tire inflation can reduce emissions by up to 30%. Aside from saving on fuel, driving efficiently also helps you extend your vehicle’s engine and reduces the number of times you pay for costly repairs.

Use Eco-Friendly Travel Options for the Long Distances

When choosing transportation for a long-distance journey, consider the environmental impact. Flights are often the fastest but the most carbo carbon-intensive to travel. Consider riding a train, which produces less CO2 per passenger mile than flying. Or search for bus or coach travel, which is much more sustainable than flying. If you have to fly, book direct flights and fly airlines that are efficient with fuel and have carbon offset programs. These small changes accumulate to a significant change in your carbon footprint.

Offset Your Carbon Emissions

Carbon offsets are investments — in reforestation or renewable energy projects that offset your emissions. Many organizations and companies can now offer you a carbon offset option for yourself and your business. If you travel for work, for example, and cannot walk, cycle, or train to your workplace, you can calculate how many ‘carbon miles’ you need to travel and offset your travel emissions. 

Cutting your carbon footprint is not about changing your life but making simple and thoughtful choices that can make a huge difference. Like many climate change solutions, combating climate change through daily travel habits is about fixing what we can to help stem significant contributions to carbon emissions while also reversing existing impacts. More than ever, every decision we make as individuals brings us towards a more sustainable future. Let’s stop pretending we don’t have a choice in our daily travels and take responsibility for the choices we make – ones that will have lasting positive impacts on the environment and the future for our future generations. We can make a difference together to create a greener planet.

Image source: freepik.com.