Visiting Melting Glaciers Can Be Profound, But Is It Morally Wrong?
In August, Crystal Cruises embarked on the first commercial cruise through the Northwest Passage. For $21,855, the cruise line promised a unique journey “through majestic waterways, spectacular glaciers, and towering fjords … where nature is truly wild and landscapes are absolutely breathtaking.” This triumph was made possible in part to rapidly declining ice in the Arctic region.
Environmentalists were swift to point out the inherent irony in taking a trip on a luxury cruise liner with a huge carbon footprint to a majestic region opened up by climate change. Beyond the irony, they voiced a greater concern: that creating a market for commercial travel in this previously unexplored region could have detrimental impacts on the the Arctic's landscapes and wildlife, many of which had never been exposed to humanity’s footprint.
As climate change reshapes the planet and opens up once unreachable locales, it is only natural that tourism would follow. These areas aren’t just interesting to travelers because they offer adventure and scenic vistas; they also offer a kind of experience that could disappear forever if climate change continues unabated. Now these opportunities are creating profound ethical dilemmas—for travelers as well as ethicists.
Richard Ricciardi