The end of the pandemic makes the majority of people believe that “everything is going back to how it was”. Many think: “Life is short, it is better to realize our dreams before dying on this dead planet!” “Sad observation! This myth translates into an excessive increase in the number of air travel. Tibet, Guadeloupe, Japan, Florida, Mexico and the Dominican Republic are popular destinations for tourists in search of meaning and rest who seek to escape the constraints of this world.
This “return to normal” coincided with unusual rain and ice storms in Gaspésie and elsewhere in Quebec. Many Quebecers are disappointed with this weather and console themselves with another international flight.
In fact, the reasoning of these travelers is understandable. They want to discover other lands, to return from their trip with a new perspective on their daily life and with beautiful memories to share. Of course, air travel is only one of many causes of global warming; multinational corporations, private jets, war and meat consumption surely cause more harm. And then, from a certain point of view, the plane is “collective transport”.
However, it is well known that mass tourism denaturalizes popular destinations and harms the local population who are trying in vain to protect their culture and natural heritage. Not to mention that plane flights are quite disturbing to migrating birds and terrestrial wildlife. This polluting means of transport, like the solo car, adds to the causes of the climate crisis.
On the other hand, a study points out that, in the long term, the impact of air travel would be less than that of a private car. Hence the importance of each individual taking the time to question themselves to find out if their trip is really necessary for them. The solution lies in the intelligent use of means of transport by considering their impact and the possible alternatives depending on the situation.
The time has come for degrowth and sobriety. The poet Henry David Thoreau once said, “I fear to take too many trips or to too famous places, as it might cloud my mind completely. I’m actually convinced that what we observe at home — if we take the time to observe anything — is more important than what we observe abroad. »
Taking a simple travel diary with a pencil to discover the surrounding nature offers many possibilities for a change of scenery and learning. For those who know how to be present and attentive, nature teaches how to live. Not to mention that traveling not far from home allows you to better understand the challenges facing the local environment and offers the possibility of taking the time to find sustainable solutions collectively.
It is essential that soft mobility be made accessible to the entire population — including political authorities — both for daily travel and for tourist and business trips. Several municipalities are slowly starting to take action to democratize soft mobility, and these efforts are improving the quality of life of residents.
If more people give up the plane and the solo car, the snow will still envelop the Nordic countries for a long time to come with the unique and exceptional winter atmosphere that characterizes them. Citizen actions are revolutionary because they are contagious, accessible and inspiring, in addition to having a direct and concrete impact on people’s lives and on the environment they inhabit.