As overtourism continues to affect a number of travel and vacation destinations in Europe, many people have been expressing concerns about the impact of flying and other forms of transportation on the environment. A university lecturer, Ross Bennett-Cook from the University of Westminster, recently proposed the implementation of carbon passports for UK residents, an idea that was previously debated in the UK Parliament in 2008.
The concept of carbon passports would involve assigning each individual an annual carbon allowance, enabling them to monitor and manage their travel-related emissions. These passports would track travelers’ carbon footprints and impose restrictions on exceeding a set limit of emissions credits for transportation, particularly for international flights. The proposal is part of an effort to curb the environmental impact of tourism, which has become increasingly severe.
Bennett-Cook noted that the negative impacts of tourism on the environment have reached a critical point, prompting the need for drastic changes in travel habits. In the 2008 debate, the House of Commons explored ‘personal carbon trading’ by allocating individuals a carbon allowance within an overall national cap on emissions from transportation. Individuals would surrender credits as they made purchases resulting in emissions, such as electricity and fuel. Those who exceeded their allowance would have to purchase additional credits from individuals with unused allowances.
Recent data from the U.K. Office for National Statistics indicates that transportation is now the leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, surpassing even the electricity sector. This shift underscores the urgency of implementing measures to reduce carbon footprints, as the environmental impact of travel continues to grow.