We propose and love doing sports in mountain regions,
waters and flats worldwide - meeting new people, learning about different
cultures, exploring nature and wild places. This envolves travelling
and especially car driving and flying to reach remote places.
Transportation and mobility account for the major part of negative environmental impacts of tourism.
The emissions of burning conventional fuels lead to an increasing greenhouse
effect, which in the long term changes our climate and negatively impacts
our favourite playgrounds and the snow we love. Still, in supporting emerging tourism markets to establish low impact activities in situ helps to lower potential negative effects where people travel. Biodiversity and conservation of fragile habitats and species are one example.
Everyone travelling should try to minimize the
use of cars and planes whenever possible, rather taking longer
trips less often than small trips in a high number. Secondly,
we should jointly work for and support research and use of more
efficient and alternative fuels and engines from cars and planes.
Informing and reflecting about our travel consequences is a first
step. For all our projects we try to calculate emissions and
offset them. One main emission in its amount when travelling
is CO2, Carbondioxid, next to many others.
Overview on emissions when travelling:
CO2 (Carbon dioxide). A colorless gas formed
by complete combustion of all fossil fuels.
Carbon dioxide is necessary for life on earth - its the output of respiration
and input for photosynthesis. The greenhouse effect increases with increased
concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. Normal concentration in the atmosphere
is 0,035%. CO2 emissions from aircraft are proportional to the fuel burned.
H2O (Water vapor). Vapor condenses under certain
conditions, forming the contrails that sometimes are visible behind
the aircraft at high altitudes.
Data indicate that there is a connection between the condensation cores in
the trails and the formations of cirrus clouds, which most likely contributes
to the greenhouse effect.
H2O emissions from aircraft are proportional to fuel burned.
SO2 (Sulfur dioxide) is toxic and reacts with
water to produce acid precipitation.
The SO2 emissions are proportional to fuel burned and sulfur concentrations
in the fuel
NOx (Nitrogen oxides) are formed in combustion
processes at very high temperatures. In aircraft engines the high
temperature and pressure cause the atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen
to react with each other, mainly during takeoff and ascent when
the engine temperature is at a maximum.
With effect from 1996 the ICAO has tightened the aircraft engine certification
standards for nitrogen oxide emissions, which are expected to be made even
stricter in the future. Nitrogen oxides are toxic and can produce ozone in
a reaction with oxygen at ground level and in the troposphere. In the stratosphere
NOx has a ozone depleting effect.
HC (Hydrocarbons). The main component of jet
fuel are hydrocarbons. Incomplete combustion of fuel in engines
during low thrust operation causes emission of unburned hydrocarbons,
some of which are toxic.
CO (Carbon monoxide)
Toxic, combustible gas formed by incomplete
burning of substances containing carbon,
e.g. fossil fuels.
GCD (Great Circle Distance),
definition of the shortest flight distance
between two points, taking the curve of
the earth’s surface into account.
MTOW (Max Take-Off
Weight). The maximum certified weight
for the aircraft type at the start of
take-off.
Cabin
Factor (%)
is
defined
as
the
number
of
passengers
in
the
aircraft
divided
by
passenger
capacity
for
the
aircraft
type.
Pkm (Passenger
Kilometer).
Defined
as the
number
of passengers
in the
aircraft
multiplied
with
the distance
flown
in kilometers.
The number of passengers in the aircraft equals cabin factor multiplied by the
passenger capacity for the aircraft type. pkm = (cabin factor %) x (passenger
capacity) x (flight distance km)
General info on ecotourism and travelling
can be found at the International
Ecotourism Society.
Calculate your CO2 emissions for example at co2balance or
with the climate
change calculator.
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