The transport sector is considered one of the greatest challenges for climate protection. Greenhouse gas emissions have not yet been effectively reduced here. An environmentally friendly arrival and departure therefore makes an important contribution to sustainability. Instead of getting straight into a car or plane, it is worth looking at the alternatives.

As a rule, trains and coaches are particularly environmentally friendly means of transportation. However, if you are traveling with four or more people in a car, you are also traveling in a climate-friendly way due to the high capacity utilization. Deutsche Bahn's ICE or IC/EC trains run on 100 percent green electricity within Germany. Precise comparative values for energy consumption and emissions per journey are provided by Deutsche Bahn's CO₂Compass.

More distant destinations can often only be reached by plane due to short vacation times. For climate protection reasons, the following should apply: It is better to make long-distance trips less often and stay longer. The CO2 emissions caused by flying can be offset by organizations such as atmosfair, myclimate and others.

If you are traveling by train, you often also have the option of being mobile locally. In many places, you can hire bicycles or e-bikes or - depending on the vacation destination - use a rental or car-sharing car for day trips.

It is often difficult to tell how environmentally friendly an accommodation is. Sustainability seals, which are awarded and regularly checked by independent bodies, provide guidance. According to Stiftung Warentest, the following three certificates are considered reliable:

• Bio Hotels:
  They rely on green electricity, environmentally friendly materials, organic food, natural cosmetics in the bathrooms and charging stations for electric cars. Mainly represented in Germany and Austria.
• Green Key & GreenSign Hotels:
  GreenSign Hotels exist in Germany but also in neighboring countries. Green Key is widespread internationally. Both seals set high standards, for example in terms of energy efficiency, water consumption, waste avoidance and social aspects. However, green electricity and organic food are not mandatory.

An overview of certified accommodation can be found on the websites of the respective seal providers.

Some booking portals offer filters for sustainable hotels. However, these are only reliable if the underlying criteria or certificates are clearly stated.

Sustainability does not end with the journey and choice of accommodation. Behavior at the vacation destination also plays a role. Those who opt for reusable bottles and reusable containers on excursions reduce packaging waste. Avoiding motorized leisure activities such as jet skis or motorboats in favour of hiking, cycling or canoeing helps to protect the environment and the climate. Choosing plant-based and regional foods also improves your personal carbon footprint. Environmentally conscious behavior on site protects nature and habitats - and helps to ensure that future generations can also enjoy recreation in an intact environment.