Jack Johnson.
Celebrities jump on board to raise awareness about the effects of climate change.
Keep an eye on the We Are Still In movement in the United States, formed following the Trump Administration's announcement it was pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement in June 2017. It now features more than 3500 members from US states, tribes, local governments, cultural institutions, businesses, health systems, and universities. Earlier this month, several musical heavyweights got behind the cause, including Bon Iver, Calexico, Tune-Yards, My Morning Jacket and Jack Johnson , in light of the fact their tours and performances can have a significant environmental impact. The artists have pledged to reduce energy use, eliminate waste and offset carbon emissions, use their status to help raise awareness and inspire their fans to get on board with tackling climate change too.
HELP FOR HAWAII
If you're looking for something to do during a visit to Hawaii, non-profit organisation AccesSurf is looking for volunteers for its programme, which offers anyone with a disability the opportunity to experience the healing power of the ocean. Among its community-based events is its flagship Day at the Beach, held on the first Saturday of each month at White Plains Beach Park, Oahu. Volunteers are needed to help set up, assist with swimming, surfing, water safety and transfers, food, equipment maintenance and packing up. You must attend a briefing at 8am on the day of the event.
JAPANESE AIRLINE FLYING HIGH
The honour of being the world's most sustainable airline has been awarded to Japan's ANA for the second year in a row by the 2018 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. The award criteria included excelling at everything from recruitment processes and employee retention to environmental and risk-management practices. The airline's fleet includes fuel-efficient aircraft as part of its ANA Fly Eco 2020 goal to reduce its carbon emissions by 2020. It plans to introduce biofuel made from green algae output and help develop refuelling systems at airports.
KEEPING YELLOWSTONE PRISTINE
The world's first zero-waste trip has been planned for next July by Natural Habitat Adventures, in partnership with WWF through the Greater Yellowstone Region of Montana and Wyoming. The Safari America: Yellowstone Country tour from July 6-12, will see 14 guests explore the famous national park and its surrounds over seven days. At the end of the journey, waste produced is expected to fill a single small container, achieved via recycling, composting, upcycling or re-use. Guests will be issued with a zero-waste toolkit that includes personal reusable items. The tour company hopes to inspire travellers to make changes to the waste created in their daily lives, and is using the initial trip as a learning exercise that it can roll out across all its tour offerings.
NICE ONE GUYS!
Youth tour company Contiki has launched a reusable water bottle for guests travelling on its European Summer 2019 trips, which costs just $10. The Contiki Cares Bottle is made from 100 per cent recycled silicone, is collapsible and has a built-in filtration system. The company is working to reduce its plastic usage, recently eliminating plastic straws and plastic bags from its operations.
And in other "bravo" news, UK-based travel company Exodus Travels recently donated more than 1000 Freedom Kit Bags to rural communities across Nepal in a bid to improve women's health. The bags were created by British doctors Rosa and Ian Matheson and contain reusable sanitary items which last for two years. They cost $50 each.
ECO-FRIENDLY IN ECUADOR
If you're looking for sustainable hotel options during a visit to South America, try and book into Mashpi Lodge in Ecuador. The lodge, in the Andean cloud forest, three hours northwest of Quito, was named South America's Leading Eco-Lodge 2018 recently at the World Travel Awards Gala Ceremony. It is one of National Geographic's Unique Lodges of the World.