Responsibletravel.com is to remove the facility for its customers to offset carbon emissions via its website.
The company was among the first travel organisations to introduce carbon offsets in early 2002 but is removing them for environmental reasons.
Responsibletravel.com managing director Justin Francis said: “We have thought long and hard about how we can continue to offer our customers the leading advice they expect from a responsible tourism business when it comes to the fast-growing impact of flying on the environment.
“We believe that the travel industry’s priority must be to reduce carbon emissions, rather than to offset. Too often offsets are being used by the tourism industry in developed countries to justify growth plans on the basis that money will be donated to projects in developing countries. Global reduction targets will not be met this way.”
Responsibletravel.com has sought advice from Friends of the Earth to put in place a clear, alternative ‘carbon caution’ for travellers offering advice and tips.