Significant increase in tourism companies with environmental objectives, according to WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has presented the second edition of its "Net Zero Roadmap" for the industry. According to the document, the number of global travel and tourism companies setting climate targets has increased by 27% in the last three years, and more than half are committed to reducing emissions.
Launched as part of the COP29 activities, the report reveals that 53% of the top 250 travel and tourism companies analyzed have already set climate targets, up significantly from 42% in 2021, when the first “Net Zero Roadmap” was created.
Among these companies, one-third have committed to the Science-Based Targets (SBTi) initiative targets, underscoring their dedication to meeting stringent emissions reduction benchmarks. In particular, the number of companies adopting SBTi targets has gradually doubled since 2021, indicating an accelerated effort by the sector to align with global climate standards.
Building on the original roadmap, launched in 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, this latest edition addresses the growing environmental impacts on tourism. It introduces an enhanced decarbonization framework, which includes new target corridors to guide travel and tourism companies in setting ambitious and achievable climate targets.
The roadmap highlights that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, as each sector faces its own challenges, and some may meet their net zero emissions targets sooner than others.
One of the main objectives of the updated roadmap is to improve the alignment and transparency of the sector, especially as demand for sustainable travel options grows, with 75% of travelers worldwide now expressing a desire to travel more sustainably.
The roadmap also builds on WTTC's Environmental and Social Research (ESR), which reveals a significant decrease in the carbon footprint of travel and tourism.
According to the latest ESR data, travel and tourism accounted for 6.5% of global emissions in 2023, up from a peak of 7.8% in 2019, representing a reduction of 10.2%;a 10.2% reductionin the sector's greenhouse gas intensity, showing the sector's significant progress toward decoupling emissions growth.
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In 2023, the aviationón industry achieved a 6% reduction in carbon intensity compared to 2019, when travel and tourism was at its peak, while the cruise and accommodation industries decreased their carbon intensity by 11%.
These reductions are critical as the sector works to balance growth with a meaningful transition to lower emissions. The updated roadmap also highlights the role of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in reducing aviation's carbon footprint.
By reducing emissions by up to 80% across the fuel lifecycle, SAF has become a cornerstone for aviation's decarbonization pathway, and the roadmap calls for the development of a new carbon footprint for aviation;The roadmap calls for the expansion of SAF adoption across all airlines, backed by investment and regulatory alignment, to accelerate emissions reductions.
It also provides more detailed guidance for small businesses, which represent the backbone of travel and tourism, but face unique challenges, such as defining and pursuing a more strategic decarbonization approach.
It emphasizes the importance of accessible green finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which can often lack the resources to implement sustainability measures.
Despite these advances, the report identifies current challenges, both internal and external, that require attention. Measuring scope 3 emissions remains a complex task for many companies, as does achieving regulatory alignment across all regions.
The report identifies current challenges, both internal and external, that need attention.