A recent report by Intrepid Travel points out that the climate crisis isn’t a distant threat and the world should stop treating it as such. Travelers have known for some time that our habits must change and finally many are taking steps to become more sustainable tourists. However, sometimes sustainable travel isn’t enough and it looks like stricter measures must be employed to ensure we do our part.

Threat of personal carbon allowances for sustainable travel

While steps are being taken to make travel more sustainable, including Virgin Atlantic’s recent history-breaking sustainable flight, more is needed. For this reason, and according to a report by travel company Intrepid Travel, measures it describes as “drastic” could be put in place in the future. Moreover, one of these could be the introduction of “personal carbon allowances.” Many other reports on the subject describe this type of measure as “dystopian travel” and it’s easy to see why.

Right now, the global carbon budget until 2050 is 750 million tons, and that might sound like a lot. However, according to Intrepid, limitations could be imposed on individual travelers by 2040. These limitations would restrict the amount of carbon each traveler can use and would likely be tracked via their passport.

Meanwhile, as of now, this is merely a prediction and no plans have yet been laid out to handle personal carbon allowances. However, Intrepid feels it is likely to eventually be put in place.

About the report

Produced in partnership with The Future Laboratory, the report also covers the impact of climate change on our choice of vacation destinations. Greece, Tenerife and Portugal each suffered wildfires in the summer. Meanwhile, Spain hit records with endless heat waves and still continues to do so in November with record-breaking days.

Moreover, the report states that the Mediterranean area could become an “extinct” destination. This was based on a prediction from travel company Tui, that travelers will start to opt for cooler destinations are the heat becomes too high. In the case of Tui, they are shifting their focus to Nordic countries and cooler European destinations, such as The Netherlands and Belgium. Meanwhile, those travelers without school-going children could change their vacation patterns to travel in the spring and fall.

In fact, a poll by Advantage Travel Partnership found that 62 percent of British travelers in the 18-24 age group would reconsider their destinations due to the climate. Meanwhile, 70 percent of those polled would adjust the time of year they choose to travel.

Speaking to STV News, Darrell Wade, the co-founder and chairman of Intrepid Travel, said, “The direct, catastrophic impact of climate change has for too long been viewed as something distant in the future. But this is no longer an impending event; it’s happening now.”