Carbon Passports Loom as Overtourism Plagues Europe

According to the news, as overtourism continues to plague travel destinations across Europe, concerns are mounting about the environmental impact of flying and other forms of transportation. Experts predict that carbon passports, which would track individuals' carbon footprints and limit their use of high-emission travel, may soon become a reality.

In July 2025, a visiting lecturer at the University of Westminster, Ross Bennett-Cook, stated that carbon passports will likely be introduced at some point. These passports would allocate a personal annual carbon allowance for UK residents, forbidding them from exceeding a set limit of credits used for transportation, particularly international flights.

The article notes that the negative environmental effects of tourism have become so severe that "some are suggesting drastic changes to our travel habits are inevitable." This sentiment echoes a similar concept discussed by the UK Parliament in 2008, which explored the idea of "personal carbon trading" to reduce emissions from certain modes of transportation.

Interestingly, the UK Office for National Statistics found in 2024 that transportation now contributes more to greenhouse gas totals than the electricity sector. This shift underscores the growing urgency to address the environmental impact of travel and implement measures like carbon passports to curb emissions.