Environmentally conscious adventures as per David de Rothschild
7 minute read
September 04, 2023
As we emerge from three years of travel restrictions, many of us are not only ready to go on new adventures but, these days, we are also looking to do so with reduced environmental impact. We at Hyundai thought there couldn’t be a better person to consult on environmentally conscious adventures than David de Rothschild, a world-renowned eco-explorer, environmental activist, and Hyundai IONIQ ambassador.
Over the past two decades, David de Rothschild’s insatiable curiosity and passion for nature have helped him make a name for himself as a modern-day eco-explorer. To raise awareness of environmental issues, David motorbiked through the Mongolian mountains and crossed Antarctica on skis. Also, to highlight the environmental effects of the Belo Monte dam, he paddled down Brazil’s Xingu River. He has even sailed the 8,000 miles from San Francisco to Sydney on a boat made of 12,500 plastic bottles called Plastiki, to raise awareness of ocean pollution.
During our interview with David de Rothschild, the eco-explorer spoke with us about environmentally conscious travel and the importance of planning adventures with a lower environmental impact. He also shared what inspires him to travel, the environmental challenges he has witnessed, and ways travelers can make more mindful choices during their journeys. David even offered tips on reducing the environmental impact of trips whether close to home or far away, while remaining respectful of nature and local environments.
What is environmentally conscious travel, and why is it important?
Environmentally conscious travel, sometimes referred to as ecotourism or responsible tourism, refers to traveling in ways that seek to reduce negative environmental impacts. It involves making conscious and responsible choices as a traveler to minimize the negative impact of tourism on the environment, economy, and society, while also maximizing the benefits for local people and preserving natural and cultural heritage.
David de Rothschild acknowledges that no matter your destination, all travel produces carbon if you rely on fossil-fuel-based transportation to get there. However, environmentally conscious travel is not limited to transportation choices. It can also include supporting local businesses and communities, reducing waste and energy use, choosing transportation options with a lower environmental impact, and respecting local customs and traditions. David recommends, “Whenever you travel, think about all the ways in which you can decrease your footprints.”
Whenever you travel, think about all the ways in which you can decrease your footprints. – DAVID DE ROTHSCHILD
Witnessing environmental destruction
David de Rothschild chooses his travel destinations for a reason – to highlight the effects human choices have on the environment. Although he expects the worst, he is still often shocked by the reality of it. Here are three such experiences David will introduce: the freezing temperatures, old-growth rainforests, and finally the seabed.
David will never forget being a few days away from the North Pole in 2006, in a place where you expect inhospitable coldness – so uncomfortably cold that you can’t operate or move – and he remembers sitting outside his tent one night in his Merino-wool long johns cooking dinner because he was sweating inside his tent. It was that warm. It was just above freezing point outside, and it should have been in the minus double digits at that time of year. David remembers sitting there and being overwhelmed by the sense that he was undeniably and physically experiencing the effect of real global warming.
In Borneo lies one of the starkest reminders (or consequences) of how our modern consumption is tied to climate change and the destruction of old-growth rainforests. Some of the oldest-growth forests in the world are being destroyed for palm oil. “Rows and rows and rows and rows of palm oil plantations – you can’t imagine their expansiveness – that produce oil to be used in everyday commodities like cosmetics, ice cream, and toothpaste are the reason why incredible species like the Orangutan are on the brink of extinction,” remarks David.
But some of the most shocking destruction is hidden out of sight – the coral reefs. “I don't think there's anywhere in the world that you can go now that hasn't been affected by a warming ocean and coral bleaching,” says David. “Coral reefs like the Grand Bayou Reef were once teeming with life and colors but now are often greyed out, lacking marine life, and just completely damaged by overfishing, bottom trawling, or by warming oceans and the acidification of our oceans.”
Every second breath we take comes from the ocean. – DAVID DE ROTHSCHILD
“The changes in our oceans impact marine life and all other species on this planet because we rely so heavily on a healthy ocean,” continues David. “Every second breath we take comes from the ocean. And without that, we are nothing. Witnessing the destruction of this great ecosystem is probably one of my biggest concerns and one of the most heartbreaking things.” The above examples are a few of the reasons why David is so dedicated to raising awareness of environmental issues.
How to plan your next
lower-impact adventure
A lower-impact adventure is often more about rethinking what an adventure can be. An adventure does not always have to take place in a remote or extreme environment. Walking, cycling, rowing, running, sailing, and hiking can all offer memorable experiences while requiring limited fossil-fuel use. If you decide to travel beyond what your own efforts can take you, there are additional ways to help reduce the environmental impact of your journey.
Every adventure starts with planning – from the moment you decide to undertake something. Even working out how you're going to document the trip, how you're going to share it, figure out your equipment, or how you can make a positive contribution to the environment is all part of the adventure. How you travel is another important consideration. Traveling as directly as possible from Point A to Point B can help reduce travel-related emissions. If you can combine multiple destinations within a single journey, you may also reduce the need for additional travel.
As we plan our next adventure, we can consider ways to reduce our environmental impact by following some of David de Rothschild’s recommendations. From making thoughtful transportation choices to supporting local businesses, each stage of a journey presents opportunities to travel more consciously and help reduce environmental impact.
Hyundai Motor Company supports initiatives that promote environmental awareness and collaborates with individuals such as David de Rothschild to encourage discussion about environmental challenges and responsible travel practices. Keep informed of Hyundai’s environment-focused projects and more practical tips by David de Rothschild by follow @hyundai on Instagram.