Bristol: A Green City

Bristol has recently been chosen as the only city in the UK to be shortlisted for the European Green Capital Award.

The European Green Capital Award was conceived to recognise the important role played by the local authorities in improving the environment. The idea was originally conceived at a meeting in Tallinn, Estonia on the initiative of the former City Mayor, Jüri Ratas.
Starting in 2010, one European city will be selected each year as the European Green Capital of the year. Of the 35 applicants, the evaluation panel has shortlisted eight cities, including Bristol, for the title as European Green Capital 2010 and 2011. The city was recently appointed by the UK government as Britain’s first ‘cycling city’.
Shortlisted cities are:
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Bristol, United Kingdom
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Freiburg, Germany
• Hamburg, Germany
• Münster, Germany
• Oslo, Norway
• Stockholm, Sweden

Check for eco-friendly holidays at Adventure holidays Worldwide

Thailand: sustainable tourism

Community Based Tourism Institute
The Community Based Tourism Institute provides support to strengthen the capacity of Thai communities to manage tourism sustainably. It facilitates Community based tourism research and development initiatives which strengthen local communities and support sustainable natural resource management.

Mekong Tourism
The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), located in Bangkok, Thailand, co-ordinates sustainable pro-poor tourism development projects in the Mekong in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and promotes the Mekong region as a single travel and tourism destination.

North Andaman Tsunami Relief
Thailand is an interesting destination. There is something-for-everyone in this destination that if it didn’t exist, the industry would have invented it. It satisfies the demands of every traveller, from budget, luxury to sex tourism. But, it’s much more than that!

Behind these mass media images, lies its original culture and a society that is cultured and responsible to the environment. The growing sustainable tourism industry is already winning accolades galore.

There are non profit and non religious organizations which has implemented over 120 projects in various. All projects have focused on long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability and creating realistic economic opportunities through training and marketing. The North Andaman Tsunami Relief is a network of friends, dedicated volunteers, and donations.

Luxury Operators
It is not only the small community organisations that are leading the way but they are joined by the most luxurious resorts like the Six Senses and Banyantree, who are the most ethical (and successful) luxury ecolodge and spa operators in the world.

As they say, Thailand is a destination for mass tourism but it also knows its ways towards sustainable tourism.

Sustainable Travel: Algae latest aircraft biofuel source

Continental Airlines has announce plans for the first biofuel-powered demonstration flight; another step towards reducing carbon emissions and supporting Sustainable Travel. The test flight of a U.S. commercial airliner will involve operating one engine on the special biofuel blend and conducting both normal and non-normal procedures.

The demonstration flight, (with no passengers), will be conducted in Houston on Jan. 7, 2009 and powered by a special fuel blend including components derived from algae and Jatropha plants -- sustainable, second-generation fuel sources that don't impact food crops or water resources, and don't contribute to deforestation.