In 2025, the Earth entered a new reality: the planet reached the first of six progressively worse ‘climate tipping points,’ which scientists say pose catastrophic risk to billions of people.
The tipping point we've already reached is the unprecedented dieback of warm-water coral reefs. Loss of those reefs threatens the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people who depend on them, according to The Global Tipping Points Report 2025, which was produced by 160 scientists from 23 countries.
In addition to providing critical habitat for marine species (coral reefs are home to more than 25 percent of all marine life), more than 500 million people or nearly 8 percent of the world's population depend on coral reefs directly in terms of coastal protection, fisheries resources, and tourism.
The Earth may have crossed a second tipping point as well —the melting of polar ice sheets. If that ultimately proves true, it could trigger several meters of irreversible sea-level rise, impacting millions of people.
Additional tipping points the Earth faces include the collapse of the Atlantic Ocean's major circulation systems, the retreat of mountain glaciers and the dieback of the Amazon forest.
The key point the report makes is this: Every fraction of additional global warming increases the risk of triggering further tipping points. And that could bring about incalculable damage to the Earth.
Before you despair, however, the same report offers ample reason for hope. It points out that while science shows ecosystems are approaching dangerous thresholds, science also highlights the “extraordinary potential of positive tipping points.”
In other words, shifts in policies, technologies, and behaviors can still bring about meaningful change in Earth's trajectory.
And that’s where you, the traveler, come in.
When you research, book, and participate in travel over the course of 2026, you can do so more thoughtfully, with an eye toward increasing your efforts to be a sustainable traveler. Equally importantly, being a sustainable traveler does not have to be difficult, expensive or onerous. Simple shifts in your hotel, transportation, and food choices (to name just a few) can indeed have an impact.
As Jane Goodall famously said, "You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."
To help you kick-start the process and make 2026 the year you earn your sustainable traveler badge, we've rounded up six easy-to-implement tips with a meaningful impact.
1. Opt for low-density destinations and avoid peak season
Mass tourism is a significant challenge across the globe, particularly in global hotspots like Venice, Rome and Barcelona. And that’s bad for the planet because it puts “services, water supplies, and overall footprint are under stress,” says Jorge Salas-Guevara, founder of New Paths Expeditions.
But as a traveler, you can bring about change on this front when booking and planning vacations.
“Travelers can make a meaningful difference by selecting less-visited destinations or by choosing shoulder seasons for their travel,” explains Salas-Guevara, who has decades of hands-on leadership in expedition travel and conservation.
Making this simple shift in your travel planning can help reduce impact and pressure on a destination.
It can also “prevent wildlife from being stressed by too many tourists competing for limited viewing opportunities,” continues Salas-Guevara.
There’s also an added bonus for you as the traveler: Visiting a destination when there are fewer crowds means you’re more likely to have a better experience overall.
This is especially true during shoulder seasons (the period between peak and off-peak seasons) when the weather is often cooler and more pleasant, prices tend to be lower, and services improve.
A hotel with an ecofriendly grass roof and solar panels. (Photo Credit: Courtesy AdobeStock)
2. Select hotels that are eco-certified
Another easy step you can take during travel planning is looking for hotels and resorts that are actively engaged in sustainability efforts.
One of the most reliable ways to assess a hotel’s sustainability practices is to look for third-party certifications such as EarthCheck, a globally recognized standards and certification program for hotels and resorts, says Sonia Singh, of Los Angeles, California-based Yatri Travel Planner
“Travelers can review a property’s EarthCheck profile to understand performance across energy use, water conservation, waste management, biodiversity, and community engagement,” explains Singh.
That said, a lack of certification does not automatically mean a hotel is not committed to sustainability. Some properties prioritize action over formal reporting and often make their sustainability programs and efforts clear on their websites.
3. Make your spending part of the solution
Where you spend money matters when traveling. When booking accommodations or tours, seek out companies that can point to real, on-the-ground actions like local hiring, long-term community partnerships, thoughtful route design, and efforts to protect cultural and natural resources, says Jennifer Allison, operations manager for VBT Country Walkers, who is also a member of the organization's Sustainable Travel Committee.
“While traveling, choose locally-owned hotels, family-run restaurants, and independent shops whenever possible,” says Allison. “These choices help keep tourism dollars in the community and support the people who live there year-round.”
Similarly, Richard Krieger, director of Sky Vacations, stresses the importance of buying local when you’re globetrotting.
“Choose local, handmade, artisan items over mass produced souvenirs and support smaller, family run shops,” says Krieger, who adds that these types of purchases are often more meaningful.
4. Dine where food is sourced
Dining is a cornerstone of many travelers' journeys, and when you're deciding where to eat in a destination, finding menus and restaurants that emphasize locally sourced food can go a long way toward helping the planet.
“It’s a wonderful way to be sustainable – and healthy,” explains Krieger. “You help reduce food transport emissions, help preserve local traditions and are bound to have an authentic dining experience.”
Travelers explore a rural landscape on electric bikes at sunrise. (Photo Credit: Courtesy AdobeStock)
5. Make sustainable transportation choices whenever possible
While exploring a destination by private car is convenient, it's not the most eco-friendly option. Travelers can reduce their carbon footprint by opting for walking tours, using local transportation, or even renting e-bikes.
Each of these options offers a great way “to connect with a place and its people and greatly reduce environmental stress of traditional cars,” says Krieger. “And for those who want to stick with a private car experience, request EVs as a first choice.”
6. Go beyond sustainability, be regenerative
As a traveler exploring the world at this critical point in history, actively avoiding harming a destinations is only part of the goal. It is increasingly important to take your efforts to the next level by working to leave the places being visited in a better condition than when you arrived.
This is known as regenerative travel and it is what many responsible travel operators are working toward. It's also what both organized tour participants and independent travelers should strive for, says Salas-Guevara.
“There are many ways to do this. Travelers can choose service providers based on their regenerative practices, such as the involvement of local community members as part of their teams, providing education and career opportunities, and directly contributing to the restoration of ecosystems and long-term resilience,” Salas-Guevara explains.
Independent travelers can also join local initiatives while exploring destinations, such as reforestation projects, wildlife monitoring programs, conservation activities, community-led cultural programs, or even educational initiatives that support local schools or training efforts.
“Regenerative travel is the goal today,” concludes Salas-Guevara. “We can all be part of making the destinations we visit healthier, stronger, and more self-sufficient than before our visit.”
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