Iceland houses a fragile environment, and the same can be said for its tiny communities and economy too. The Nordic country has been increasingly popular among travellers lately. It is crucial to encourage sustainable travel in Iceland and have fun at the same time.
Just like every other country on the planet, Iceland is not immune to climate change. The impacts are already being acutely felt up north: for example, the Atlantic puffin is endangered and an increase in precipitation poses a substantial risk of landslide.
But the people of Iceland are visibly ambitious in their efforts to go green. The country has set an objective to become carbon neutral by 2040 and already produces 100% of its electricity from geothermal energy or hydroelectric dams. Read on.
Five simple tips for sustainable travel in Iceland
1. Drink tap and not bottled
Instead of buying bottled and creating more plastic waste, drink tap to enjoy some of the freshest, cleanest water on the planet. Bring a reusable bottle around and make sure to request for tapwater instead of the bottled ones at restaurants.
2. Go electric
It is easy to rent bicycles, electric bikes or electric scooters in Iceland. The buses there are also electric. The country has a number of fast-charging points. You’ll not be using electricity created by fossil fuels to charge your vehicles as all electricity in Iceland is produced by clean energy.
3. Opt for eco-friendly cuisine
Iceland is a fishing country in the middle of the Atlantic. So imported products obviously carry a high carbon footprint. If you truly care about eating sustainably, check out some farm-to-table restaurants. There are even an impressive number of excellent vegan restaurants there.
4. Select better accommodations
Thanks to the sufficient availability of geothermal energy in Iceland, hotels run on clean energy as a rule. But there are some accommodations that believe in taking sustainability a step further still. For example, Hótel Fljótshlíð lets its guests to be a part of the reforesting of Iceland.
5. Respect nature
This tip might sound really basic but it is truly underrated. If you are camping in Iceland, remember to pack out your trash with you. There is one more way: make sure to wash off before taking a dip in any of the geothermal pools in the country.
This article is part of our ‘Sustainable Tourism’ series. Stay tuned for more.
