TORONTO - Most Canadians have a double standard when it comes to the environment, being less eco-friendly when they're travelling than at home, says the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.
According to a poll conducted for the group, 83 per cent of Canadians have never taken an eco-friendly vacation — although about 60 per cent would consider one if the price was the same as a regular holiday.
The poll defined an eco-friendly trip as one that aims to "sustain, enhance or have as little impact as possible on the environment."
Ways to make travel greener include using e-tickets, taking public transit while sightseeing and buying carbon offset credits, something that 90 per cent of Canadians have never considered, said the foundation, which funds environmental projects across the country.
"While we often think about our impact to the environment at home, our research shows that the majority of Canadians aren't as concerned about the environment when they're away," Mary Desjardins, the foundation's executive director, said in a release.
The group has launched a contest offering the chance to win a green vacation to the Galapagos Islands, B.C.'s Great Bear rainforest or on a Via Rail train. To enter, participants must sign up to the group's free e-newsletter. Details at www.tdfef.com.
