The climate crisis is leading to greater climate chaos, environmental destruction and associated social impacts in the waters that sailors love to cruise. The activities of the wealthiest people, such as sailboat owners / cruisers, have significantly contributed to the climate crisis through activities that release greenhouse gasses, and consume a disproportionate share of the world’s resources. Sailors are now asking: “What can we do?”
This list of “best practices” provides ways that sailors can increase their awareness of the climate and ecological crises, and respond by reducing their impact. Effective responses reduce the carbon footprint of boats, cruising activities and the cruising lifestyle. And they reduce the unsustainable over-consumption of the earth’s resources. This list of best practices also includes cruising with awareness of social issues associated with climate and the environment. Allowing cruisers to make a positive contribution to the communities they visit.
This list of best practices attempts to provide an extensive overview of practices, rather than details of the science behind the practices or specific ‘how tos’. Those components will be covered in follow-up material. Best practices can be adopted over time, often with “easy to do” ones being implemented first. Using the best practices list sailors can develop their own implementation timetable.
Utilizing these best practices will not solve the climate or ecological crises, but can stop making them worse. Every ton of greenhouse gas emitted matters. At every choice point, selecting the option with the least environmental harm helps not just the environment but also sets a good example for others.
Environmentally responsible cruising – Best Practices.
Objective:
To significantly reduce sailors’ / cruisers’ carbon and ecological footprints.
Measuring Progress:
The first step to responsibility is tracking how one contributes to the climate and ecological crises. This requires measuring and recording the use of all fossil fuels (and related products), creating an energy budget for all devices, and recording consumption of resources (all purchases associated with cruising).
Cruisers can then record changes and improvements over time.
Best Practices are listed under six main categories.
Best Practices to be added soon – currently in prep.
Contact me if interested