What insights does Paul RYKEN offer on reducing carbon footprints while traveling?

Travel slowly and fly less: The more we slowed down and focused on one continent per year, the lower our transport emissions became. Flying less often but staying longer makes a big difference.

Choose lower‑carbon transport where possible: Trains, coaches, public transport and walking beat rental cars and planes most of the time. Even on long trips, most of our non‑flight miles were by ground transport.

Embrace the sharing economy: Using shared accommodation, vehicles and other assets spreads the embodied and operating emissions over more people, which reduces each person’s footprint.

Be careful with everyday consumption: Shorter (and fewer) showers, switching off AC/heating and appliances, line‑drying clothes, carrying a reusable bottle and avoiding single‑use packaging all cut both energy and resource use.

Rethink what and how much you eat and buy: Moving toward a more plant‑based diet and away from (fast) fashion and mindless shopping reduces some surprisingly large hidden emissions.

Measure, then improve: Use a carbon calculator to get a baseline, then track how lifestyle changes (slower travel, different transport, diet shifts) change your footprint over time.