A three-step environmental, social and governance (ESG) campaign is to be instigated by the Business Travel Association from January in a bid to fulfil the United Nations’ Cop26 goals.
The first stage will be to benchmark the industry’s current position and investigate its future expected activities against the UN’s 17 ‘Sustainable Development’ targets.
In-depth interviews with senior stakeholders across the sector will underpin the campaign.
This will deliver a major report to identify specific areas needing prioritised sustainable development across the entire business travel supply chain.
Diversity, equality and inclusion will also be targeted by the campaign to holistically support ‘Generation BTA’ and the wider business travel network, enhancing the BTA Diploma in Business Travel and apprenticeship schemes.
Further steps from next spring will include a nationwide tour with external expertise to pinpoint action areas, resulting in a ‘Roadmap to a Sustainable Future’ to be published by the autumn.
BTA chief executive Clive Wratten said: “The entire industry needs to view ESG through a wider lens.
“We have always known that carbon offsetting alone is not enough, and that more must be done internationally and domestically to ensure that sustainability is intrinsically weaved throughout the travel supply chain from flights, to rail, to hotels and cars.
“This campaign is a critical first step in our pathway to net zero, providing us with a clear direction to make this goal a reality, as business travel once again becomes a valued part of normality.”