Travel has the power to change places and the lives of the people who live there – for better or worse. - SustainableTravel.org
Businesses across all sectors are increasingly recognizing the importance of sustainability in today's era of climate change awareness. Corporate travel presents a significant opportunity to reduce carbon footprints. Currently, aviation accounts for roughly 2% of global CO2 emissions, with about two-thirds originating from international flights.
Did you know that the average American emits approximately 17 tonnes of carbon pollution annually? To put it in perspective, a tonne of carbon is about the size of a two-story home. Furthermore, a single short haul return flight can contribute to 10% of an individual's yearly carbon emissions, and a round trip from Montreal to London emits as much carbon as heating a European home for a year.
Making sustainable travel choices can have a substantial impact. Avoiding just one trip can be equivalent to going car-free (gasoline-powered) for an entire year.
In addition to environmental benefits, sustainable travel practices can also save money. Airlines, like other transportation providers, have been passing on the rising cost of carbon taxes to consumers since 2018. In Canada, for example, carbon tax increases added approximately $18 per segment, or $36 round trip, to a typical short-haul flight of three hours or less, and another carbon tax is set to take effect on July 1st, 2023.
By embracing sustainable practices now, companies can proactively reduce their environmental impact and educate travelers to make sustainable travel choices and create a road map for travel cost containment.
McTavish Travel has been providing Carbon reporting to our customers for more than 10 years. We work closely with our customers to develop travel policies and guidelines to meet their green travel objectives.