I am neither a guardian of sustainability, nor an ambassador of ancestral wisdom, let alone a warrior for socio-ecological justice. I am merely a traveler, striving to befriend the earth and all who dwell within it. With every journey I undertake, I do more than cross landscapes; I delve into silent spaces, heavy with unspoken questions. Why is the air I breathe no longer pure? Why has the soil beneath my feet lost the scent of moss and fallen leaves, now tainted with the timeless residue of plastic? I have no answers. All I know is to keep moving forward.
Among the many titles given to those who wander, I choose to be known as a responsible traveler. I anchor myself to the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic. One significant aspect lies in the conscious choice of low-carbon transportation. In 2020, Indonesia ranked as the ninth-largest carbon emitter in the world, with emissions reaching 590 MtCO₂ Eq (Carbon Atlas, 2023). In response to this pressing issue, I have adopted a more mindful approach by reducing my reliance on private vehicles and embracing walking as a primary mode of mobility. Furthermore, for my upcoming journey to the United Kingdom, I have deliberately chosen to fly with Etihad Airways, one of the aviation industry’s pioneers in decarbonization efforts. Since 2021, Etihad has actively participated in sustainable flight initiatives (CNN, 2022). This aligns closely with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 13 on Climate Action, which calls for urgent measures to reduce emissions. In another part of my journey as a responsible traveler and in alignment with SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production, I have committed to reducing single-use plastic waste. Carrying an aluminum water bottle and a reusable food container has become a conscious habit, a quiet yet persistent gesture of care for the planet.
However, when individuals are committed but systems and infrastructure are not yet in place, this can result in an inability to progress. Tourism operators may claim to support sustainability, yet fail to provide refillable water stations, neglect to install proper waste separation bins, or designate walking and cycling paths that remain unsafe and poorly maintained, rendering their promises hollow. This, inevitably, gives rise to the practice of greenwashing. Frances Bowen explores this in depth in her book After Greenwashing: Symbolic Corporate Environmentalism and Society. The concept of symbolic corporate environmentalism highlights how companies often express environmental concern through symbolic gestures, such as eco-labels, green buildings, or sustainability reports, without demonstrating real, systemic change (Bowen, 2014).
What we need now is a system that takes a stand, policies grounded in reality, and the courage to act with integrity. I come with criticism, not to tear down, but as an expression of love for a planet that continues to be betrayed.
References
Bowen, F., & Aragon-Correa, J. A. (2014). Greenwashing in corporate environmentalism research and practice: The importance of what we say and do. Organization & Environment, 27(2), 107–112. Retrieved from www.jstor.org/stable/26164703
