Skift Take

Reduced pollution from travel companies is a good thing. But one has to to wonder about all the companies that are not self-reporting progress on carbon mitigation.

New self-reported data from the World Travel & Tourism Council finds that the group’s members are on track to have reduced their carbon output by 50 percent by 2035.

Its Travel & Tourism 2015: Connecting Global Climate Action report also shows that many of its partner members have improved carbon efficiency by 20 percent from 2005 to 2015.

“While the sector has grown, added more jobs and contributed billions of dollars to economies all over the world, we have seen real commitment to sustainability from business as companies innovate and collaborate with others to reduce their overall impacts,” said David Scowsill, president of the World Travel & Tourism Council.

The report shows that member companies are estimated to reach a 25% carbon intensity reduction by 2020. More than 55 of the group’s members have set carbon reduction goals, while more than 25 have implemented carbon management or offsetting programs.

The organization reports there are many large scale challenges to travel companies becoming more carbon efficient. In addition to the internal corporate challenges of creating a comprehensive policy limiting pollution, world governments also need to create incentives for business to use renewable energy sources and mitigate carbon output. The report states that the upcoming Paris COP21 climate change talks will be crucial to convincing companies to become more green.

“Per passenger, per room, per rental, per transaction, and per unit of revenue, we now serve global traveler 20 percent more efficiently than in 2005 and are contributing to our goal of a 50 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2035,” said Scowsill. “The next 20 years will be characterised by our sector fully integrating climate change and related issues into business strategy, supporting the global transition to a low carbon economy, strengthening resilience at a local level against climate risks, promoting the value of responsible travel, and greening entire supply chains.”

Here is a roundup of the companies’ self-reported carbon emission reductions.

AMADEUS

22.2% reduction in emissions per million billed transactions from 2010 to 2014 at top 10 sites.

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

24% improvement in CO2 emissions per passenger from 2006 to 2014.

INTREPID TRAVEL

Became carbon neutral in 2010 for its facilities and ground operations, purchasing renewable energy and o setting other emissions.

HILTON WORLDWIDE

20.2% reduction in emissions per square meter from 2009 through 2013.

THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI HOTELS / THE PENINSULA HOTELS

22% reduction in carbon emissions per square meter from a 2006-2008 average baseline through 2014.

HYATT HOTELS

17% reduction in emissions per square meter from 2006.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL GROUP

18.3% reduction in emissions per square meter from 2007 through 2014.

NH HOTELS

69.4% reduction in carbon emissions from 2007 to 2014 for its comparable hotels (over two-thirds of the portfolio).

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES

20.1% reduction in emissions per passenger cruise day from 2005 to 2013.

SONEVA

Became carbon neutral in 2012 for its direct resort operation and in 2014 for both its direct and indirect resort operations including guest ights, by investing in renewable energy and carbon mitigation projects.

TUI GROUP

10% reduction in airline emissions intensity from 2008 to 2014, real estate and transport emissions reductions of 25% and 22%, respectively from 2011 to 2014.

WYNDHAM WORLDWIDE

20.5% reduction in operationally controlled assets from 2010 to 2014.

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Tags: climate change, environment, pollution, wttc

Photo credit: An Air China B-2471 taking off in San Francisco. dsleeter_2000 / Flickr

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