Energy and climate impact of travel

• Getting there, accommodation and leisure activities require different amounts of energy.
• Distance, mode of transport, occupancy and additional journeys all affect a trip’s overall impact.
• Heating, cooling, hot water, lighting and laundry are typical energy needs of accommodation.
• Local infrastructure determines which transport options and services are available.
• Water and nature conservation are connected to energy issues, but remain separate aspects of planning.

Travel planning can arrange the sequence of the journey, connections and onward travel to avoid unnecessary detours. Staying longer in one place reduces the number of changes of location and leaves more time for regional destinations. For long distances to Eastern Europe or Central Asia, suitable connections depend on distance, available transport and travel time. For special types of travel, the route’s length, number of stages and occupancy affect its energy needs.

A trip consists of several parts: getting to the station or airport, the main leg, local transfers and daily journeys. When choosing leisure activities and things to do, distance and necessary transfers determine how many additional journeys are involved in the day’s itinerary. A city break can be planned around culture and history, while relaxation and wellbeing involves longer stays with fewer changes of location.

Accommodation uses energy for heating or cooling, lighting, hot water and laundry. Facilities and local conditions vary according to the building and destination. Location and access to transport affect journeys between accommodation and the day’s destinations. Accommodation close to planned destinations can shorten additional local journeys.

Water extraction, treatment, distribution and hot water link water use with local competing demands; tourism businesses rely on local infrastructure for these services, which is part of the economy, tourism and environmental protection.

A location close to planned destinations can shorten daily journeys. A longer stay makes it possible to group several activities in the same region. Planning can coordinate distances between accommodation, the railway station, public transport and attractions. Responsible travel includes keeping journeys between accommodation and destinations short, and choosing an arrival option that suits local transport infrastructure.

Tourism’s social and environmental impact depends on the local context: visitor demand shares roads, housing and public spaces with the everyday lives of local culture and communities. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, sustainable travel can involve planning the length of stay, journey and destination together; travel ideas in Eastern Europe and Central Asia cover a range of regions and transport areas.

Which parts of a trip use energy?

Transport, heating or cooling in accommodation, hot water, lighting, laundry and leisure activities are typical areas of energy use.

Why is length of stay relevant to planning?

Staying longer in one place can reduce daily changes of location and additional journeys. The actual impact of a trip still depends on the route and mode of transport.

How have greenhouse gas emissions from transport in the EU changed?

The European Environment Agency estimated that transport emissions in the EU rose by 0.7 percent in 2024 compared with 2023. This figure describes the year-on-year change in the EU transport sector as a whole from 2023 to 2024.

What energy issues affect accommodation?

Heating or cooling, hot water, lighting and laundry are among the main daily energy needs of accommodation providers.