Sustainable Mobility, Sustainable Tourism

Patricia Tamayo, 08A

For the most part, allusions to the common perception that sustainability and transport may never be able to co-exist are inevitable and truth to tell, if one thinks about it- the implications the development in transport systems have on the environment, the undying chain of causalities every small step geared towards improvement on the current state of mobility brings (and we’re not just talking about the common air pollution that predictably leads to diseases, but the continuous thinning of the ozone layer that has now brought the entire human race to fear what the so-called “global climate change” has in stored for us)- there’s a great chance that it is, in fact, true. Or maybe, just with a hint of optimism, WAS true.

The evolution of man has gone a long way since the Homo sapiens first discovered the ability to make and use complex tools. Now, with intensified ingenuity, it seems like anything we set our minds to becomes possible. Various promising innovations concerning our dilemma on how to inject the element of sustainability on transport, among other fields, have emerged rapidly. In relation with petroleum depletion, worsening air quality, and global climate change, extending the research to the usage of biodiesels such as coconut oil is being done. Electricity-powered engine prototypes are also currently being improved upon. Effacing global fossil-energy use will admittedly not be that simple. Tackling climate change & enhancing energy security require a massive decarbonisation of the energy system.

Actually, an edifying research paper coming from a geological institute in Australia claims that man’s carbon emissions (especially those coming from industrial plants and transport system discharges) have nothing to do, whatsoever, with the current changing trend in the world’s climate. Man’s carbon emissions only amount to 0.03 % of the entire carbon in the atmosphere. Geologists also speculate on the possibility that this is predestined, that the climate change we’re going through is the real natural process of the earth. But still, fault or no fault, with what’s happening, no one can sit idly by and do absolutely nothing. Like I mentioned earlier, the trade-off between sustainability and mobility is slowly ceasing to exist, and for that we could say that we’re halfway there.

Now, onto the repercussions of the developments of the achievement of sustainable mobility to the tourism industry; as acknowledged, tourism cannot possibly exist without the means of transport systems. Statistics tell us that air transport systems are the most commonly used when we talk about tourism. Granted that there are still no viable options as to how we can substitute, and thereby eliminate, the use of petroleum in this mode, opting to hold on to sustainability does not really project a positive outcome for the tourism industry.

The challenge is enormous- but it can and must be met. Improved energy efficiency and technology deployment are the most critical components to achieve sustainability in transport, and thus, tourism.