Tui Group has set a target of 2030 to slash emissions under a new three-pronged new sustainability agenda.
A science-based initiative calls for a 24% reduction for Tui airlines, at least 46.2% for hotels and 27.5% for cruise compared to 2019 levels.
The three elements of the agenda have been outlined as ‘People, Planet and Progress’ underpinned by 15 focus areas to be implemented across the business. These range from investments in state-of-the-art aircraft to ambitious energy savings across the board.
Europe’s largest travel group has set a commitment to achieve net-zero emissions “well ahead of 2050” and science-based targets by 2030.
The sustainability agenda was developed by an international team of experts from the company in collaboration with its business units.
Group chief executive Sebastian Ebel said: ”These scenarios were made on the basis of today’s scientific findings and the technologies and fuels available today.
“New technology and innovations will continue to open new possibilities and will spur us on to be more ambitious. That’s why we will keep reviewing and adjusting our targets.
“We want to reduce faster and more comprehensively and we will also communicate this to our suppliers and partners. Anyone working with Tui must be prepared to pursue ambitious goals and walk the path with us.”
Tui aims to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) beyond current blending obligations by its in-house airlines, with Ebel calling on politicians and airports to create air traffic fee incentives for more efficient aircraft.
“Higher fees for older aircraft, lower fees for the use of SAF and more carbon-efficient aircraft. These are simple mechanisms to directly strengthen investments in sustainability,” he said.
TUI’s cruise business will reduce the CO2 emissions of their fleets by more than a quarter in absolute terms by 2030 via energy efficient ship operations, fuel-saving route optimisation, shore power in ports and the use of alternative fuels – such as sustainable bio-fuels, bio-LNG and green methanol.
It claims that no other cruise line in the world is currently committing to an “absolute” reduction target. Tui Group’s cruise business is also the first in its industry to have its reduction target approved by an independent Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi),
a collaboration by the voluntary UN Global Compact sustainability pact and WWF, among others.
Tui is focused on renewable energy and resource-saving operational practices to cut hotel emissions “as far as possible” to zero as early as 2030.
Ebel said: “We are in a decade of sustainable transformation – for Tui and the tourism industry as a whole. We want to strengthen and further develop tourism as a global driver of prosperity and development.
“Tui will continue to lead the tourism industry in sustainability – with our ambitious goals, pioneering initiatives and holistic approach.
“Sustainability is a top priority for me personally and for Tui. We have proven in the past that we have the expertise and the right approach to make tourism more sustainable. That’s why we don’t see sustainability as a threat – for us, it’s an opportunity.
“We wanted to be led by the latest climate science, which is why we are working with the science based targets initiative.”
He added: “The 2030 emission reduction targets are an important milestone on the way to emission-free travel. We aim to make significant reductions by 2030.
“I see it as the minimum of what we need to achieve, both in terms of reduction targets and time horizon.
“For example, I have set myself the personal goal of reducing emissions from our hotels as far as possible to zero as early as 2030. Together with all Tui colleagues, I am working to ensure that Tui becomes the industry’s climate pioneer and continues to expand its lead.”
- Tui Group releases quarterly financial results and holds its annual meeting tomorrow (Tuesday).