Going Green on Home Exchange

Now that global warming and environmental issues have moved from being issues of concern for the conscientious few to being seen as a major issue of persuasion in the political arena, it is hoped that more effective policies for sustainable development will emerge, and with more urgency than they have received over the last twenty years or so.

Launching and administering Green Theme International Home Exchange over that last twenty years has shown that home (or hospitality) exchange is gaining favour with those who are concerned about the negative impact of package holidays and the tourism industry on the environment and the social fabric of local communities.

But, you will say, people still have to reach their destinations, and travel involving the burning of fossil fuels is one of the major contributors to global warming. It is true that most of us travel to international destinations by aircraft and they are serious polluters. Whilst you may not think there is much you can do other than to stop travelling, you could consider calculating your carbon dioxide flight emissions and paying an equivalent voluntary carbon neutral tax as suggested at the Carbon Neutral Company site.

Another suggestion for non-intercontinental travel is to let the train take the strain. Travelling by train produces fare less carbon emissions than other forms of transport. However, travel by train does tend to be expensive, but you can RIDE THE RAILS FOR LESS! if you buy a pass. Eurail passes aren’t only good for slower, state-run trains. Customers also have access to privately owned, premier, high-speed trains in the countries their passes cover. For example, there’s Artesia between Italy and France; Thalys in Germany, Belgium, and France; and the Eurostar between England and France. Pass holders do need to pay a small fee for a seat reservation.

For more train travel advice see Telegraph travel journalist Sophie Butler's article European railways are a far cry from our own - and new passes will make exploring them even more attractive.

Tickets and passes For more information on tickets and passes contact Rail Europe (08708 304862; www.raileurope.co.uk) or visit the Travel Centre at 178 Piccadilly, London W1. For planning itineraries see the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable – Independent Travellers’ Edition (published quarterly at £15.99). Contact Thomas Cook Publishing (01733 416477; www.thomascookpublishing.com). Details about the new TGV line are available at www.tgvesteuropeen.com.

Cars and other motor vehicles are major contributors to greenhouse gases and other pollutants because, traditionally, they burn fossil fuels. The condition worsens daily with detrimental consequences to the earth's fauna and flora. If you are unable to consider travelling by train, and you have a choice of what vehicle you use, or which car you choose to hire, try to use vehicles which rely less on fossil fuels and instead burn a proportion of renewable fuels. Comprehensive information about which cars can be considered the most green is available at the following web page.

If you want to access more information about caring for the environment, Envocare is one of the best sites I have come across for impartial non-commercial information on the topic. The site was “conceived as a central source of data on environmental issues by a small group of individuals, with backgrounds in the electronics and IT disciplines, who wish to encourage the preservation and improvement of the environment”. Their philosophy is pragmatic. “To encourage change it's got to be an easy process, or maybe we won't bother. Also we believe that it is better to be Light Green than not Green at all. Perhaps with encouragement we can evolve painlessly from Light to Darker shades of Green".

Also see Untangling the Global Warming Paradox", Guardian Unlimited article on Monday 12 February 2007, and the great comment by the Sceptic Optimist.