As the snow melts and spring break approaches, there’s strong local excitement for vacations filled with sunshine and adventure. Whether lounging on tropical beaches or exploring vibrant cities, there’s plenty of opportunity to make sure your family’s bit of respite doesn’t cause undue harm to the places we love.

Through a partnership with Yampa Valley Regional Airport and The Good Traveler program, spring breakers now have an easy, affordable way to counteract the negative effects of carbon emissions from their air travel.

Through the program, vacationers can choose to donate an amount of money that’s calculated based on the number of miles they’re traveling. This money goes into the Routt County Climate Action Plan Fund, which invests in local carbon reduction projects like tree-planting and riparian habitat restoration.

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In the idyllic landscapes of Routt County, where nature’s beauty captivates the soul, the impacts of air travel emissions pose a significant threat to the environment. It is essential to understand how carbon emissions from air travel contribute to rising temperatures and why the community should prioritize taking action to offset these emissions.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, aviation accounts for about 11% of all transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Locally, about 26% of greenhouse gas emissions identified in the Routt County Climate Action Plan come from the transportation sector.

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These emissions contribute to climate change, and the Rocky Mountain region, including Routt County, is vulnerable to its impacts. Reduced snowpack, prolonged droughts and increased wildfires are already becoming common occurrences.

These changes threaten many of the things we love about the Yampa Valley — from having abundant, fluffy snow to ski on, to having healthy, strong-flowing rivers for fishing and kayaking.

As spring break draws near, the number of residents traveling by air to warmer destinations to get away after a long winter exacerbates these harmful carbon emissions.

Supporting initiatives like The Good Traveler program and adopting sustainable travel practices are critical steps toward a greener and more sustainable future for Colorado and beyond. 

Whether it’s managing natural spaces to help our wildlife thrive, researching how much snowmelt will enter our rivers, or reducing waste, there are many people and organizations in the Yampa Valley who are taking impactful steps in reducing our carbon emissions.

Money from The Good Traveler program goes directly to these local efforts being carried out every day in our community. These projects are dependent on funding from grants and donations, and funding can be the difference between whether a project gets completed or stays up on the shelf. 

By taking action now, individuals can help mitigate the carbon footprint of air travel and contribute to preserving the local environment. 

Programs like The Good Traveler not only offer opportunities for locals to protect their community, but for tourists to be good stewards of the places they are visiting, as well. 

To continue your positive impact, research the environmental concerns around travel to your spring break destination and consider donating to local environmental nonprofits in that area as well. 

While contributions of a few dollars here and there are small to individuals, together they can add up to make an important impact on communities. To make a donation through The Good Traveler based on your air travel, visit thegoodtraveler.org/partners/yampa-valley-community-foundation/.

This column was submitted by the Routt County Climate Action Plan Collaborative. For more, go to RouttClimateAction.com/.