When it comes to climate change, the most offending contributor to the increasing carbon emissions is the transportation industry. From cars to trains to planes, Americans love their independence and ability to travel on a whim. Data shows that vehicle miles have increased to 1.58 trillion during the first half of 2018, and researchers believe that airline travel will double over the next two decades.

The 2020 pandemic altered travel and affected so many tourism changes for towns, cities, and countries. Most vacations were canceled, and staycations, aka shutdowns or stay-at-home orders, reigned supreme. 

Social distancing guidelines severely decrease how many people can be in any building at any given time, which has hurt restaurants, entertainment centers, and more. Not only do these changes impact brick and mortar stores — tax revenue and government budgets are also affected.