Intrepid admits climate initiatives ‘haven’t been enough’ as it unveils new strategy

Intrepid Travel is replacing carbon offsetting with a new climate impact fund redirecting A$2 million (£1 million) a year into “practical” emissions cutting initiatives.  

 

The change to the operator’s decarbonisation approach for 2026 will see the fund enable Intrepid to switch more readily to the use of electric vehicles; invest in renewable energy in its hotels and offices; and work with more than 10,000 suppliers globally to decarbonise. 

 

A move away from a science-based targets initiative, to which Intrepid committed in 2020, will see a new lifecycle 8% carbon intensity reduction target. This will be focused on reducing emissions per trip by 2030. 

 

The company will also continue to have a specific 21% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions (offices, trips, accommodation) by 2030, from a 2024 base year.  

 

Intrepid’s carbon reporting will cover the full lifecycle of travel – including flights booked directly by customers to get to and from their trips.  

 

The new strategy places emphasis on tangible and immediate action.  

 

Intrepid’s purpose team will engage with its 10,000-plus suppliers, working across everything from providing loans to those in countries such as India and Nepal to purchase TVs and installing solar panels in homestays.  

 

Company co-founder and chair Darrell Wade and chief executive James Thornton acknowledged that Intrepid, and the entire travel industry, is not on track to achieve a 1.5C future and more urgent action is needed.  

 

In a joint open letter published today, they said: “In 2020 we joined the science-based targets initiative with three near-term 2035 targets and backed that commitment by cutting flights on trips, promoting alternative transport, introducing carbon labelling on our trips, ceasing operations in Antarctica (pictured) and more. 

 

"These actions were real, tangible steps towards emissions reduction, but they haven’t been enough. 

 

“The transition to renewable energy, sustainable aviation fuels and electric vehicles across the 117 countries in which we operate is progressing – but not fast enough.” 

 

The open letter adds: “Travel is a powerful tool to build empathy, shift perspectives, support local economies and drive global connections. But that power means little if we aren’t willing to grapple with its environmental cost. 

 

“Intrepid’s new approach to climate action is designed to reflect the urgency of this crisis and accelerate the work we need to do to decarbonise our business.”