Glossary of ethical travel terms

Carbon neutral Achieving zero CO² emissions, either through offsetting or reduction, such as using renewable energy.

Ecotourism A niche segment of tourism, visiting natural areas.

Greenwashing Dressing up a trip or resort to make it appear more ethical and sustainable, eg calling a property an ‘eco-lodge’, simply because it has a garden.

Habitat conservation holidays You work as a volunteer on environmental projects, doing anything from tree planting to habitat restoration or removing invasive species, anywhere from Scotland to the Seychelles. Overtourism Too many visitors in a single destination, causing traffic congestion, rent hikes that push out local tenants, crowds around historic sites and environmental degradation.

Responsible travel This relates to the behaviour of individual travellers. It’s about aspiring to make choices according to sustainable tourism practices.

Sustainable tourism The idea of taking full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts.

Wildlife volunteering A working holiday, in a sanctuary or in the wild, focussing on research and rehabilitation of wildlife. There are a huge range of volunteering trips available, from tracking cheetah in South Africa to caring for formerly-abused bears in Romania.