2012 stands
under the sign of sustainability. The United Nations (UN) designated this year
under the device “Sustainable energy for all” and fosters projects that help human (in rural or urban areas) to have access
to modern energy services and aim to enhance energy efficiency plus the share of renewables to the global energy mix (www.sustainableenergyforall.org).
However, sustainability is not just about energy matters. It is the measure of
the behavior how to deal with human, natural and economic resources – your quality
of life!
As I travelled
through Australia and New Zealand recently I asked myself, how sustainable can
you design your travel and being a backpacker, can this go together with a low
budget? But first, how would you determine “a sustainable living”? Three terms tip
the scales:
Fairness – how
well are resources distributed?
(income,
energy supplies, education, ethnical difficulties)
Efficiency –
how efficient are we using our resources?
(atmosphere/greenhouse
gases, energy consumption, work and skills/labour)
Preserving
resources – what will be left behind?
(environment,
education, economy, culture, biodiversity)
If you
arrive at your foreign destination with your cheap Asian flight company and are
finally dropped by the airport shuttle at the most noisiest place in downtown
you feel it right away. Budget travel means privations. Most of the young party
crowd just left home at their first time, freshly graduated and no idea about
life at all. But there are also a lot young people that try to escape
unemployment and ethnic disadvantages. They unite as work and travelers –
backpackers-and feed one own industry in Australia supporting agriculture, construction
and hospitality work. Some have money in their pockets, earned or from rich
parents, some have not. Compared to circumstances in their dream country, e.g.
Australia, European backpackers resources are nevertheless fair, mostly
graduated or educated with start capital in their pockets. The way I recognized
the contrasting social standing and chances of Aboriginal people has been
rather shocking: a lot have been ragged and alcoholised, poor and
under-educated, rather seldom I viewed “integrated” natives.
Thus education and income are not
necessarily fair distributed for ethnic minorities.
Champagne Pool - geothermal field close to Rotorua/NZ
In terms of
public education and ecology Australia and also New Zealand step ahead: most
state museums and art galleries are for free! Also an advantage for travelers to
save some money. You can be very efficient if you watch out a bit. You can for
example reduce your CO2-emissions in many ways. If you travel in your own
bought car you can share travel costs and fuel and take people on a lift. Or
travel in public transport. In Perth you can even use the inner city bus system
for free! In some Australian cities you can hire bikes for free – or walk, as
the distances are not far anyway. If you need to fly just because the distances
are indeed huge you can neutralize your carbon footprint and support forest
projects – sometimes directly via your chosen airline. Another way of
preventing CO2-emissions is to avoid fast food. It is healthier any way to
prepare your own food and cheaper.
Energy and
resources consumption happens everywhere in the daily backpacker life. Go to the
supermarket and you realize that Australia and New Zealand still have no
recycle system and waste fossil resources in terms of plastic bags that come
with every article group you buy: one bag for fruit, one for milk, and yoghurt
and one for even if it’s only one toothbrush… On top there is simply no waste
separation-not in backpacker’s kitchens. But you can use one bottle for your
drinking water from the tap (if it is not thoroughly chlorinated). Use textile
bags for shopping and shock the packing girls and boys at the counter. “No bag,
really?”. “Really!”
You can do
more. Educate yourself by using free
book shelves to exchange books and also to leave some excess books there
instead of throwing them away. Do the same with excess food. There are free
food boxes in backpacker accommodations that are usually empty. Someone’s
always hungry. If this could work out globally, what would that change the
global life quality!
And remember,
you are not at home-respect resources of others. Try not to waste energy. At
some places you find still coal-fired ovens and heating systems and maybe shake
your head. Australia draws most of its energy from fossil resources (coal).
Solar and wind power contribute below 1 % of the total energy mix. However,
Aussies use solar panels a lot to gain hot water. You can see that on nearly
every roof in Western Australia. In New Zealand at least 35% of the total
energy supply comes from renewables (geothermal and hydro power) that largely
contribute to electricity. You cannot really choose your energy supply when
travelling. Just think ecologic!
Also a matter of sustainability - effect of greenhouse emissions on the climate, spoken dramatically
The way you
bring your work and skills into the foreign society also is a measure of
efficiency. Backpackers are often used
as cheap laborers that now significantly contribute to agriculture and other industries.
If you work “under value” it may be not efficient, yes even frustrating for
you. Why not try in your usual profession and also achieve something
sustainable for yourself?
Try to keep
something for your future and get involved in preserving resources. The biodiversity
of a country is one important measure of its sustainability. In New Zealand
there are numerous volunteering projects in the field of nature and species
conservation that you could join. If you
want to save their national bird from extinction you can also adopt a kiwi or support
it with donations. You can also contribute to farm work and help out in Australian
or New Zealand families. This will thrive the economy and along the way you
learn about people and their culture as well as they will exchange values with
you!
Therefore a
work and travel or backpacker’s life can be as sustainable as your daily life
at home. Sustainability is not only a matter of money but what you are willing
to give. The little things count.
Backpacker petting a little lamb on a sheep farm (Mata Mata/NZ).
Interested in sustainability in Germany? Visit the Science Year 2012
