Since the start of mass tourism in the 1960s, the number of tourists in the world has increased sharply. From being an activity for the rich, holidays today are taken for granted by many in the growing middle class around the world. The growth of tourism has brought economic development and positive social and cultural exchanges, but at the same time tourism contributes to many sustainability problems from an ecological, economic and social perspective. These include, for example, the release of contaminated water, rubbish, the exploitation of attractive landscapes, a reduction in the number of local residents, deforestation from exploitation, over-exploitation of fresh water resources, prostitution, displacement of local populations and greenhouse gas emissions. The greenhouse gas emissions from tourism are a serious problem. Most of the greenhouse gas emissions are generated by the long-distance flights that are a central part of today’s tourism.
Do you want to be a more sustainable traveler? Researchers at Mistra Sustainable Consumption have developed an online tool that lets you calculate your trip’s carbon footprint. Learn more at https://travelandclimate.org/.
Emissions from aviation are increasing and the Swedish population’s flying causes as much climate impact as all car traffic in Sweden. About a fifth of these are business trips, while about four-fifths are private travel, mainly in the form of holiday travel.
Latest news about travelling
New Report: These Policies Could Reduce Nordic Emissions
In a new report personally delivered to the Swedish Climate Minister Romina Pourmokthari (L) today, researchers examine which policy measures are most effective in reducing consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions in the Nordic countries. The researchers focused on...
New TV series about the history of climate change
Photos from 'Händelserna som förändrade klimatet' PHOTO: UR/Faktabruket The TV series 'The Events that Changed the Climate' ("Händelserna som förändrade klimatet") recently premiered on SVT. This historical documentary series features, among others, our researchers...
What Covid-19 taught us about sustainable travel
COVID-19 led to global travel restrictions that impacted the way we spent our holidays. Researchers have now explored what these travel behaviors can teach us to support the transition to more climate-smart holiday options in a new scientific paper. Between March and...
Climate Smart Vacation Made Easier with updated travelandclimate.org
Thinking about going on a road trip and camping this summer? Or taking the train to Berlin and staying in a hotel? Now it’s easier to compare vacation options based on their climate impact. On travelandclimate.org, travelers can compare and assess the climate impact...
If you don’t fly, do you drive more?
New technology, changed lifestyles, and energy efficiency measures all have the potential to reduce emissions from our consumption. However, when we save money or time, what do we do with the resources that are freed up? If you don't have a car, do you then fly more?...
Webinar: A Radically New Consumption – What Could Climate Commitments Imply?
Sweden may become the first country in the world to have a consumption-based climate target. This would include emissions both in Sweden and abroad that are caused by Swedish consumption. But what kind of consumption is compatible with climate commitments? What will...
Long-term approaches get sharing platforms through the covid-19 crisis
When the covid-19 pandemic paralysed society, companies and organizations found themselves in a very difficult situation. While the overall collaborative economy has been hit hard, many sharing platforms, such as Uber, Airbnb and Karma, found new ways to not only...
Marlene and Sustainability
In three short films the pop musician Marlene tries how to live sustainably according to the latest research. She is trying everything from renting new furniture for her studio, to going on a virtual reality vacation. Marlene and Sustainability Part 1: Furnish...
One of the world’s largest conferences on sustainable consumption starts now
Three of the keynote speakers: Emily Kawano, Esteban Kelly and Peter Victor. Photo: SCORAI Today SCORAI 2020 starts, an international conference on sustainable consumption which is being held completely online. During three days everything from social justice to...
Soon we’ll be flying again – Here’s how politicians can help make air traffic greener
Airplanes all over the world are currently grounded, which has temporarily reduced global carbon emissions. But when the world slowly goes back to normal, what can we do with respect to aviation so we don't end up with the same emission levels once again? A new...
Publications about vacations
2024
Mainstreaming sustainable consumption: lessons learned from a four-year research program Journal Article
In: Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, vol. 20, iss. 1, 2024.
Methodology Report for www.travelandclimate.org Version 4.0 Technical Report
2024.
Metodrapport för www.klimatsmartsemester.se Version 4.0 Technical Report
2024.
Exploring pandemic holiday practices: Meaning, experience and aspiration Journal Article
In: Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, vol. 5, iss. 2, 2024.
2023
Digitalization: A Potential Tool for Sustainable Consumption? Book Chapter
In: pp. 189–204, 2023, ISBN: 978-3-031-33246-3.
Carbon footprint effects of shifting from flights to night trains for Swedish tourism Journal Article
In: Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 420, 2023.
2022
Aviation’s climate impact allocated to inbound tourism: decision-making insights for “climate-ambitious” destinations Journal Article
In: Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 2022.
Semester under pandemin - Beteendeförändring och upplevelser hos svenska folket under den första covid-19 sommaren 2020. Technical Report
2022, ISSN: 2003-2188.
Potentials and consequences of altered consumption practices Technical Report
2022, ISBN: 978-91-8040-178-4.
62 sätt att möjliggöra hållbar konsumtion Technical Report
2022, ISBN: 978-91-8040-202-6.
Årsrapport 2021 Periodical
2022.
Consumption-based Scenarios for Sweden - a basis for discussing new climate targets Technical Report
2022, ISBN: 978-91-88041-40-1.
Klimatsmart semestrande - Tekniska lösningar, förändrat beteende och politiska styrmedel Technical Report
2022, ISBN: 978-91-88041-44-9.
Långväga resande i linje med klimatmålen Technical Report
2022.
2021
Konsumtionsbaserade scenarier för Sverige - underlag för diskussioner om nya klimatmål Technical Report
2021, ISBN: 978-91-88041-36-4.
Shifting expenditure on food, holidays, and furnishings could lower greenhouse gas emissions by almost 40% Journal Article
In: Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2021.
Årsrapport 2020 Periodical
2021, visited: 03.05.2021.
2020
Årsrapport 2019 Periodical
2020, visited: 30.03.2020.
FLYGRESORNA OCH KLIMATET - Utsläppsminskningar och acceptans för klimatsmartare alternativ Technical Report
2020.
2019
Att semestra hållbart? En kartläggning av vad hållbart semestrande kan innebära Technical Report
2019, ISBN: 978-91-7873-131-2.
2018
Semestern och klimatet Metodrapport. Version 1.0 Technical Report
2018.
Funders and consortium
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