18 months ago, one of my businesses, TYF Eco Hotel, became the first organic hotel in Wales, and it’s been an interesting journey. Our food, beer, wine and spirits are 100% organic except when we just can’t find an organic alternative. We use 100% renewable electricity, give staff 2.5 days a year for community projects and are members of 1% for the Planet. It’s not always easy, but it’s one of the best business decisions I’ve ever made.

As for Kyoto, the comments are fair – the deals that it proposes are way out of date and off-course in terms of delivering the equity and security that are needed. For a robust and practical perspective, have a look at Aubrey Meyer’s work on Contraction and Convergence http://www.gci.org.uk

It’s interesting to see a ‘flights’ tab at No 2 position in the whole travel site – taking one long distance would double my carbon footprint. If we’re serious about staying within CO2 limits that avoid the worst probabilities of dangerous climate change, we need, as a minimum to ‘flatline’ emissions from aviation: no airport growth, no more flights, and a distribution of existing availability so that’s equitable. It doesn’s seem reasonable to have ‘green’ and ‘flights’ on so many websites that promote tourism that’s good for the planet.

Good luck!

Fiona

And its not fair to describe ecotourism as elitist (take woofing – http://www.wwoof.org – for example), or to generalise about the views of green types.

As to starting a business in a recession – not many of us have the luxury of choice.

The green business thing is slightly irritating, suggesting as it does that those of us who don’t wear our ethics on our sleaves aren’t ethical, but overall, its a force for good.

Well then there are people who will definitely use it !!!