The Travel Foundation has repeated its call for a limit on growth in long-haul travel, arguing it is the only way the industry can meet its commitments on decarbonisation and hit ‘net zero’ by 2050.
Graeme Jackson, Travel Foundation head of strategic partnerships, told a Spain Sustainability Day conference in London: “Decarbonisation is critical to the survival of the industry and business as usual won’t achieve it.
“We’re seeing continuing growth in travel. It’s hard to decarbonise and long haul is the most difficult. Reducing growth in long haul is one pathway to reduce emissions, but in an equitable way.”
The recent Travel Foundation report, Envisioning Tourism in 2030, examined potential pathways to decarbonise and found none would achieve a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 and a single pathway to net zero by 2050.
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Jackson noted the report concluded: “If we don’t keep long-haul trips over 16,000 km [return] in check they will be responsible for 41% of [global travel] emissions by 2050 although only 4% of trips.”
He argued: “Even if we combine all the tools at our disposal, it’s not enough. We’ll not get near the target.”
The Travel Foundation, which plays a global role in developing travel industry sustainability, was established by a group of UK tour operators 20 years ago.
Jackson told the conference: “We’re conscious that 90%-plus of the industry is made up of small businesses[and] there is no way businesses can achieve net zero goals without working with destinations.”
He highlighted the Glasgow Declaration, which commits signatories to target a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 and ‘net zero’ as soon as possible before 2050.
This has now been signed by more than 1,000 travel organisations and destinations since its launch at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow in 2021.
Asked how the commitment to a 50% reduction by 2030 tallied with the Travel Foundation finding that it’s no longer achievable, Jackson said: “It’s where we need to get to. We should commit to getting as close as possible. Even if we get close, we slow down [warming].”
Abta director of industry relations Susan Deer, head of the association’s destinations and sustainability teams, told the conference: “Our members are at very different stages of development on sustainability [and] our role is to inform and share best practice.
“A lot of smaller businesses are wondering what they can do. It can be overwhelming. But small businesses can still do things in their own business, make choices about what suppliers they use and educate customers.”
She explained: “It’s incumbent on tour operators to pass on what they are doing about sustainability. We publicise what members are doing in terms of best practice.”
Deer added: “We need to communicate with customers about what the industry is doing. One of the things we’re trying to do is break down the jargon [on sustainability].”
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