Green getaways: How open data is powering sustainable summer travel
As climate concerns shape how we explore Europe, open data is playing an important role in making summer travel more sustainable, informed, and impactful
With global temperatures rising and ecosystems becoming fragile, travellers seek ways to reduce their carbon footprint whilst still creating meaningful and fun summer experiences. From choosing low-emission transport to discovering eco-certified accommodations, sustainability is becoming increasingly accessible in travel. What if open data could help to make these choices easier?
Open data helps change how we plan and experience travel through services and apps, which users can use to plan their getaways. Platforms such as data.europa.eu and the Copernicus climate service, enable access to both local and global mobility datasets, offering real-time insights into air quality, public transport routes, and green tourism initiatives. With this information, travellers can make more conscious choices based on their own preferences and contribute to greener travel. To get a general overview of the developments around tourism in Europe, travellers can also make use of the EU tourism ecosystem and get to know more about news and events related to tourism.
Open data also helps provide apps and services to navigate through cities, avoid overcrowded destinations, and highlight local businesses. Citizen science projects, participatory mapping, and open-source travel tools also help enable travelers to contribute to monitoring and conservation efforts while travelling. This provides a unique opportunity for travellers to provide data which enhances their holiday experience.
When trying to understand what it means to travel responsibly, open data offers clear guidance to help you experience a more sustainable holiday. Whether you are heading to the beach, the countryside, or a city trip, make use of open data to make it a green getaway!
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