Work Travel Volunteer

This page is not going to be a preach all about how damaging air travel is to the environment and why you shouldn't fly. People use aeroplanes and will continue to do so. We do at Work Travel Volunteer. We're probably the worst culprit - having been on round the world trips.

This page aims to outline why air travel is the big baddie to the environment but how you can help minimize your impact if you choose to travel by air.

So why is air travel so bad for the environment?

Aeroplanes contribute up to 15% of the UK's carbon emissions according to Airport Watch and up to 5% globally, and they are the world's biggest contributor of greenhouse gases. Aircraft emissions are also more harmful because they occur in the upper atmosphere rather than at ground level. Aircraft emissions are also the fastest growing cause of emissions, despite increased awareness of the public about the problems. Emissions have doubled since 1990. It is this that is the real problem.

Most emissions occur during take off and landing so short haul flights, one of the fastest growing forms of travel, are also the worst. This combined with the low cost of flying short haul is a lethal combination.

To add to the problem Nitrogen oxides and water vapour (greenhouse gases) come from aircraft engines. Water vapour contributes to the formation of contrails, the tail you see behind planes that look like clouds, which in turn are linked to an increase in the formation of cirrus clouds. Both warm the Earth's surface further increasing the global warming effect of aviation.

Why do increased carbon emissions matter?

We're no expert but in a nutshell,increased carbon emissions equals increased temperature of the earth. This increase in temperature causes changes to weather patterns causing disruption to food and water supplies, spread of disease, more extreme weather such as droughts and floods and disappearing countries.

How can we decrease the impact of air travel?

Ultimately air travel needs to decrease. That's the nirvana. Unfortunately, and realistically that may not happen. Aircraft companies need to look at more efficient aeroplanes. More recently the government has announced that from November 2009 aircraft companies will be responsible for air taxes rather than passengers to encourage more efficient uses of planes. This is great news and a good step forward.

Currently aircraft companies are not required to meet the Kyoto Protocol either. If this was enforced, air travel expansion would be much slower.

If the government pushed rail travel more to short haul destinations, people would be more inclined to travel this way.

Many passengers travelling by air are on business. With internet advances, many are resorting to video conferencing as a preferable means of communication and this too should be pushed forward.

Writing to your local MP can help push the message forward that the government needs to take a stronger stand on air travel emissions, stopping new airport expansion and delivering more efficient forms of flying.

Carbon offsetting

There are some companies that offer carbon offseting schemes such as planting trees or funding sustainable energy projects. Some critics argue that this is just a get out of jail free card, so people can continue to consume without feeling guilty as long as they throw some cash to a needy project.

We think offsetting your carbon emissions is still a great idea if you have no alternative but to fly. Encouraging energy efficient schemes too is also a very positive step to contribute to.

Decrease your carbon emissions at other times too. Your overall footprint should not be based solely on your air travel. Switching off lights, using energy efficient lightbulbs, decreasing the temperature in your house by 1 degree, walkin ginstead of driving to the shop. These are all easy ways to keep your footprint small.

Choose a responsible holiday!

If you do travel by plane, choose a holidaythat has taken steps to reduce its carbon emissions. Ask to see their ethical travel policy. They should detail in there how they have done it. Try to also avoid holidays where you'll take an internal flight to a destination. Choose an organisation that transports you by other means.

Travelling by train

FAR more fun to short haul destinations. Visit the excellent Seat61 to find all the details you'll need to travel this way.

So are there any good reasons to travel by plane?

There are some destinations that just aren't easily accessible by other forms of transport, and even if they are, many people do not have the time to travel that way. Flying is ultimately much easier than having to navigate numerous buses, boats and trains.

If we didn't fly to destinations as tourists, where would that leave communities that need tourists to survive? Tourism is one of the world's largest industries and employs one in eight people globally (World Tourism Organisation)

They say that 60 is the new 40 or something like that. Whatever. Adventurous travelling for the young at heart is growing. Whilst we've been away, we've meet numerous over 50 year old travellers. Some travelling in couples, some solo and they've been the most interesting, adventurous people we've met.

Gap years are pretty much the norm now and with the trail through Thailand, India and Australia worn out to the point of needing repair by the 18 to 25 year old age group, we're seeing the older generation seeking more extreme, more isolated, more adventurous destinations. Who said rock and roll was dead?

Although there will probably be more to organise before you go than when you were a nipper, the decision to take a year out may well be the best idea you've had. 

Can I take a year out if I've got children?

Travel can teach children far more than any geography lesson can. It helps them deal with new situations including eating new food, meeting children of the same age but from completely different backgrounds (and playing with different toys) and visiting different landscapes. Travel can also help bond families together as they will have shared an experience together and will have the opportunity to spend more time together. Children are generally very adaptable (possibly more so than adults!) so don't worry too much about how they will deal with the changes. You know your child well enough to gauge how they would cope with an extended break in a foreign country. 

Schools should be able to accommodate parents taking children out of school for up to a year. Speak to your child's school before booking the ticket though. You'll need the permission of the Local Education Authority to take them out of school for more than two weeks. Permission is usually granted if you can show that schooling will not be affected e.g don't go during important exam periods.

Other useful tips

Anti-bacterial gel is a great thing to carry!

Speak to your doctor in plenty of time to get advice on what vaccinations your child should have.

Don't take too many UK type toys. There will be mor ethan enough new stuff out there to keep your chid amused.

Do as you would do with food for your child. Peel fruit and veg, drink bottled water, make sure meat is cooked thoroughl. Again, you'll be surprised how resilient children can be to overseas germs compared to us! 

Children need their own passport now. Ensure all passports are up to date and passports have at least six months from entry into the last country valid on it.  

I'm retired. Am I too old to take a gap year?

Never. Whether you want to spend time travelling or help out with some voluntary work, there are hundreds of organisations that cater for the more mature age group rather than gung-ho teenagers. Our directory search will list all those that accept volunteers over a certain age (in fact most of them will) plus we list many ethical travel options that cater for the older age group too. If you decide to travel independently, you will probably meet more travellers of your age than you'd think! 

Where do you begin? Firstly, write down your reasons for taking a working holiday. It may be a number of different reasons; to see the world, to expand your horizons, to get some more experience. Also have a think about how much time you want to take off and if your employer may let you take a sabbatical (if you want to still stay at your present job) and most importantly what you want to do and where you want to go!

Visit our round the world page to find out more about round the world trips. We also have inspirational pages on the different destinations you could visit in our Travel Section. Get out a map, put some pins in, get excited!

Organising a career break is much harder than organizing a gap year because of the commitments you already have in your life - the main ones being work and the house.

Work

Do you know if your employer will let you take a break? There may be something in your contract if you're too frightened to ask just yet. If you want to stay, approach them armed with the knowledge that an extended break from work leaves employees more motivated, healthy, fit and full of new skills. It also means employees are less likely to leave the company meaning less hassle for them. The reason you may want to go abroad is because your employer offers placements in their offices overseas. In which case, there should be application procedures already set up in place.

If you have decided you want to leave, you'll need to check how much notice you have to give. Most employers ask for a month but some ask for three so double check before you book any flights.

Remember that the two weeks or so before you leave, you'll be winding up all your work or handing onto someone new. In my case, this was the most stressful time of my life because as well as having to deal with all those irritating tiny jobs (find passport, arrgh! Renew passport, cancel milk etc etc) your job suddenly becomes more stressful too. You may be lucky, but in more cases than not, prepare for the last week to be manic.

If you are leaving for good, make sure you take your list of contacts with you for future work and ask for a reference in advance from your employer as it will save hassle when you return and are full of doom about finding a new job.

House

If you're renting or living with your parents - lucky you. Check your contract to see when it runs until and then hand in your lease or just ask your parents nicely if you can move back in when you return! Again before you leave, if you are renting, ask if you can have a reference so when you return, you'll be nicely prepared to move in somewhere else.

Now, if you own a house....

If you have just won the lottery you could just leave it vacant and continue paying your mortgage monthly. I'm guessing most people reading this won't be so that leaves two other options.

1. Sell the house
2. Rent the house out

Renting your house out is the usual option for most people but it does involve a lot of work prior to leaving so don't leave it all too late!

Plan of action to take...

Decide whether you want to go for renting the house out independently or through an agent.

Pros of agent - most of the hassle is taken away from you. They can find tenants, pay money into your account, check the house is being looked after okay and advise you if any problems occur.

Cons of agent - you won't get as much money as if you rent the house out yourself. Usually agents take 10 to 15% of the rental amount per month plus they will take money if jobs have to be done or if they have to advertise for new tenants. Also they aren't legally obliged to get you the money. If a tenant isn't paying, they will try hard for you but ultimately that will always be your responsibility.

Pros of doing it yourself - More money! You can decide who you want to live in your house

Cons of doing it yourself - More hassle especially if you are abroad. You must have someone nearby who can help if plumbers need to come out, hedges need to be trimmed etc. Great if your family live two doors down but not if you are a solo body.

Irrespective of what route to decide to take there are also a number of things you'll have to do to your house to make it "tenant proof"

• If you are on gas, you'll need a gas safety certificate
• All furniture must have a fire safety label on it e.g. sofas, mattresses
• It is not a legal obligation as yet but it is advised that all electrical equipment is PAT tested by an electrical
• You must inform your mortgage provider of the tenants. They usually ask you to sign a "consent to let" form. Again, it's a hazy subject as technically you are supposed to go onto a buy to let scheme but if you give the reason of temporary break from work to go traveling and mention a consent to let, they should be fine.
• You must also change your home insurance to a landlord insurance. There are hundreds of deals around so shop about. Generally policies are offered with accidental cover or without so make sure you know what you are getting. You must also state the cost to rebuild your house should be irreversibly damaged. This amount can be found on your surveyor's report on your house before you bought it.
• Decide whether you want to let the house furnished or unfurnished. If you decide you want to leave the furniture there, remember it may not be in the best state when you return. Don't leave anything of value in the property.

You'll need time to move all your stuff out before you leave and before the tenant moves in. Either you'll be lucky enough to have friends or relatives that you can store it with (and trust me you will have a lot of stuff so make sure their space is big enough!) or you'll have to move it into a storage unit.

You must phone up all your suppliers and tell them the date you are moving out for a final bill to be prepared and so you don't get saddled with your tenants' bills! So electricity, gas, council tax, telephone, broadband, sky all need to be called.

Finally you'll need to cancel your papers, milk etc and redirect your mail or tell providers a new address (we directed our mail to our parent's homes whilst we were away)

• Underwear and socks
• Swimwear/bikini
• Trousers - smart if working, hardwearing if trekking, lightwearing for evening/night
• Shorts
• Skirts - smart if working, lightweight if travelling
• Vest tops or t-shirts
• Jumper
• Hat and gloves
• Waterproof jacket
• Flip flops
• Trainers
• Work shoes if needed

• Check that you are covered for activities you may want to do e.g. skiing, skydiving, rock-climbing etc. Some premiums you may have to pay extra.
• Check how much cover you get for medical care. It should be at least 5 million. Also check that your excess is not over £150.
• Do read all the small print before you go away and clarify anything you are unsure of with your provider.
• Check that your insurance does cover you for the countries you are visiting. If the FCO advises against all travel to a certain area, you may not be covered.
• Take a copy of your insurance and also keep a record of the policy number and the number to call in your notepad, in case you do lose the originals.

What is a ethical travel holiday? It's a holiday where your tour operator has put active steps in place to minimize economic, social or environmental damage to the region you are visiting and where they also encourage you to do so too. Tour operators may even go one step further and work to improve the economic, social or environmental situation of a region.

1. Paper waste reduction policy or recycling scheme set up.
2. Visits to grassroot local projects with community or environmental benefits and local markets and restaurants where your money will have a direct positive impact.
3. Employment and fair pay of local guides.
4. Use of local restaurants and markets to source food and other relevant suppliers such as local hotels rather than overseas chains.

1. Advice on water usage, particularly if you are visiting an area that has a water shortage.
2. Advice on eco-friendly camping if you are sleeping outdoors.
3. Information on the local region. They should know the current local issues and inform you about them. For example, if you are taken to watch turtles nest on the beach, they should tell you prior to visiting how not to disturb the turtle and give advice on how turtle's habitats should be protected.
   
4. They should also inform you of the current social and political situation of the country you are visiting prior to leaving, so you are aware of issues and how you may impact upon them.
5. Advise on culture etiquette! Trinny and Susannah may not be so helpful in this edition of "What not to wear" Tour operators should also advise you on any body language issues that may be offensive or customary when you meet somebody. For example, in Thailand, a "Wai" is a traditional greeting (like a handshake) It is like you are praying, but the higher you raise your palms, the more respectful it is.

Want to travel but get that feel-good factor too? Many national and international charities run yearly challenges such as trekking along the Great Wall of China or hiking through the Rift Valley to raise money for a good cause.

Environment - minimal impact to the natural environment or actively protecting and promoting conservation issues.

Social/Cultural - using local workers wherever possible, respecting traditions and religions and utilizing local accommodation, restaurants or services.

Economic - money going directly back into the local community or being used to further promote ethical travel, fair wages to local staff.

Find out more about ethical travel holidays . 

Some more detailed thoughts....

Flying

1) Do you 100% have to fly to your destination? Imagine you're starting a tour in Beijing. Are you going to have a better time rushing to the airport, getting crammed onto a plane, breathing in everyone's germs for 10 hours before being thrown out like bewildered rabbits into the stark differences of Beijing? Or.... travelling by train through Europe to Moscow, taking in the sights of the Red Square and sampling a few vodkas before boarding the great Trans Siberian and Mongolian line for six days of the Ural mountains, the Gobi desert, more vodka and many friends. And no, it doesn't have to be more expensive either. If you're organised and book in advance and live like a local, you may even find it cheaper than burning your money on airport taxes and duty free perfume.

2) Not convinced? Think it will cost too much or maybe you just don't have the luxury of time? If you have to travel by plane (and yes, we too have done) think about donating some money to a charity such as http://www.carbonneutral.com/ or http://www.climatecare.org/ who "offset" your carbon dioxide emissions through planting trees or providing more energy efficient stoves or light sources to developing countries.

3) At all times, try to use public transport rather than taxis to get around, car share or best of all, cycle or walk.

4) If you're really concerned about the problems of global warming, start reading up and campaigning for the protection of forests around the world. If deforestation wasn't occurring on such a massive and destructive scale, the earth could cope with an increase in carbon dioxide levels from aeroplanes.

Before you go

1) If you want to travel with a tour, research details about them first - do they employ local people, are they paid fairly and trained correctly, and are they committed to mimimising damage to the environment? If so, how? How big are the group sizes?

2) Learn some basic phrases. Apart from the usual, we found "We have flat tyre", "I'm sorry I don't have any sweets" and "the food was delicious" went a long way in Africa. Even if the country you visit speaks your native language, attempting a few words in your host country will enrich your experience. We've had numerous people thank us for trying to speak their language, laughing when we get something wrong, and generally wanting to talk to us more - it all adds for a far more interesting trip.

At your destination

1) Visit local markets, restaurants, shops and small scale tourist projects where the money goes directly back to the local people.

2) If you go trekking, make sure you know how well your porter is treated.

3) Please don't give gifts or sweets to children. It may give you the "feel-good" factor, but what happens when you forget about them and move on? Tourists who do this create a destructive cycle - encouraging begging and "helplessness". Don't forget, your culture rules may also be different from others. We've witnessed one child obtaining some pens from a well meaning tourist, only to be beaten by other children desperate to get hold of the goods. If you have to do this, give medical supplies to a hospital or pens to a school instead.

4) Take with you something curious - an inflatable globe, photographs of your family from home, a harmonica, a magnifying glass. If children do start begging, play or teach them instead.

5) Find out as much as you can about your destination. What are the local customs and greetings, is there a particular "code of conduct" or style of dress you should respect such as covering your knees and shoulders.

6) Ask people first before taking their photograph.

7) We hope this goes without saying, but please take your litter away with you and dispose of it safely. Many developing countries are considerably better than the UK at recycling. Nothing goes to waste. You can even get money back on glass bottles in countries like Kenya by returning them to where you bought them from.

8) Be respectful of your environment. Stick to marked tracks when walking, don't touch or take coral if snorkeling or diving and don't pick native flowers.

9) Never buy anything from an endangered animal or species. The list includes turtle soup or turtle shell, including tortoiseshell hairgrips, rhino horn, ornaments made from ivory, whale soup, tiger skin, shells, coral gifts and butterflies. It is also illegal.

10) Please don't support festivals or shows that use performing animals that are ill-treated or should be in the wild.

11) If you're on safari or viewing wild animals and you're altering their natural behaviour, you're too close.

12) Learn the art of bartering. Your seller will more than double the value he wants for the goods. You must then go lower than what you realistically want to pay. This gives room for the ball to pass backwards and forwards between both parties before settling on a price agreeable to both. Please remember though that haggling over a kwacha or two may mean nothing to you but may make the difference of a family eating or not that night so don't go overboard.

13) If you are out camping minimilise your impact by following these camping tips

When you get home

1) Spread the word! Talk to others about what they can do to take a "green" holiday. If nothing else, it can be a useful dinner-party conversation or limit those awkward silences with someone you don't know very well!

2) Join a charity that supports ethical travel such as Tourism Concern