Listen to the podcast.

Travel's High Costs

If your company sends anyone anywhere, for any reason – by car, bus, train or plane – it is contributing to global warming through increased carbon dioxide emissions.

Transportation contributes to global warming more than any other human activity, making companies that require a lot of business travel big greenhouse gas contributors. For example, every time someone flies from New York to Los Angeles round trip, they contribute an additional 1,600 pounds of carbon dioxide to the Earth’s atmosphere.

Many companies are starting to tally their carbon contributions attributable to business travel and other activities, and, better yet, finding ways to do something about it. Many are finding that they can make more money by paying attention to energy efficiency – and not just through recycling or replacing light bulbs.

A growing number of companies are investing in renewable energy and energy-efficient projects in developing countries; replacing their fleet of company cars with hybrid vehicles; reducing business travel; and asking conference venues to return to reusable china instead of disposable creamers and other condiment packages. Hotels and rental car companies are doing their part by asking guests for permission to change the sheets and wash the towels less often and by renting hybrid cars instead of gas-guzzlers.

Growing concerns about accelerating climate change have also spawned new businesses, such as firms that advise companies on how to reduce carbon emissions. Several online “carbon calculators” are now available that help families and businesses determine how much they are contributing to the problem of greenhouse gas buildup, and what they can do about it.

People and businesses can now offset their carbon emissions in numerous ways, from planting trees to purchasing carbon credits that increase investments in renewable energy sources.

To learn more about carbon calculators and how to offset carbon emissions, visit CarbonNeutral.com or SafeClimate.net.

To learn more about fighting climate change, visit www.cleartheair.org.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org