Climate Smart Commitment

Our Self-Imposed Carbon Tax

At Rick Steves' Europe, we believe that international travel is a powerful way to better understand and contribute to the world we live in. But every international flight emits damaging carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to the climate crisis.

What can we do?
Staying home isn't the answer. It's possible to mitigate this environmental toll by supporting climate-smart initiatives in developing countries, where the need — and the potential for change — is greatest. Each year, Rick Steves' Europe will invest $30 per each of our annual tour members in a portfolio of carefully selected nonprofits that fight climate change through government advocacy and on-the-ground work. Our goal: to pay our fair share of the environmental cost that our travelers incur, and to do so in a way that empowers communities throughout the developing world.

On October 1, 2019, we paid a self-imposed carbon tax totaling $1 million, so that our 30,000 annual tour members can enjoy the peace of mind that they are traveling climate-smart. For comments or questions, contact us at climatesmart@ricksteves.com.