{"id":258408,"date":"2025-05-26T18:47:59","date_gmt":"2025-05-26T18:47:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/adventure\/climate-action-and-science-based-targets\/"},"modified":"2025-05-26T18:47:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T18:47:59","slug":"climate-action-and-science-based-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=258408","title":{"rendered":"Climate Action and Science-based Targets"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n


The global\u00a0pandemic\u00a0has brought the world to a standstill and, in the process, destinations and\u00a0communities who rely on travel and tourism for their livelihoods<\/a>\u00a0are facing a challenging and uncertain reality.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Moving into 2021 and beyond,\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>tourism\u00a0<\/span>sector has a unique opportunity to redesign old travel patterns for the benefit of local communities, the environment and tourists alike.\u00a0<\/span>The growth of tourism was on an unsustainable trajectory<\/span>\u00a0with issues like\u00a0<\/span>overtourism<\/span>\u00a0of popular destinations and c<\/span>arbon emissions from flying<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>at the\u00a0<\/span>centre<\/span>\u00a0of debates<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0but with a\u00a0<\/span>rise in conscious travel<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0consideration for sustaining communities and regenerating the environment<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0there is hope.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span>\u00a0current global crisis also holds profound lessons that can help us address climate change \u2014 if we make greater economic and environmental resilience a priority as the world plans for the recovery ahead.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dr\"Dr<\/a><\/p>\n

Dr Susanne Etti, Intrepid Travels Environmental Impact Specialist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

So, in case you missed them throughout the year with everything going on, here are some\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>Intrepid\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>climate and sustainability initiatives\u00a0<\/span>that I am most proud of from<\/span>\u00a02020.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Declaring a climate emergency<\/h3>\n

Back i<\/span>n January<\/span>\u00a0before the effects of COVID-19 w<\/span>ere\u00a0<\/span>being felt on a global scale,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>we declared a climate emergency<\/span><\/a>\u00a0with Tourism Declares, a global collective of tourism businesses,\u00a0<\/span>organisations<\/span>\u00a0and individuals who have pledged urgent action on climate change.<\/span>\u00a0As the world\u2019s largest adventure travel company and a pioneer in sustainable travel for over 30 years<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>Intrepid has been a carbon neutral business since 2010 and in 2018 became the world\u2019s largest travel business to be certified B Corp.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Polar\"Polar<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cBased on the facts we know today; we would be lying to ourselves if we were to continue as though\u00a0the travel industry wasn\u2019t contributing to the climate crisis.\u201d Image by Justin Meneguzzi.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

But<\/span>\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0<\/span>recognised<\/span>\u00a0that b<\/span>eing carbon neutral is no longer enough. Based on the facts we know today; we would be lying to ourselves if we were to continue as though<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the travel industry wasn\u2019t contributing to the climate crisis<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Carbon offsetting<\/span><\/a>\u00a0does not create a license to emit, but it does provide critical funding to projects that are providing clean energy,\u00a0<\/span>as well as\u00a0<\/span>projects that deliver social, cultural, economic or environmental benefits<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that work towards regenerating the planet.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, we<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>created a<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>seven-point commitment<\/span><\/a>\u00a0plan<\/span>\u00a0to underpin our climate emergency declaration.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our seven-point\u00a0commitment\u00a0plan<\/h3>\n

Our<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>seven-point plan<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>include<\/span>d the following commitments:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. To\u00a0<\/span>annually\u00a0<\/span>measure our emissions<\/span>, f<\/span>rom transport, to waste, to energy use \u2013 we need to know where our emissions are coming from\u00a0<\/span>so,<\/span>\u00a0we can understand how to limit them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. To\u00a0<\/span>offset<\/span>\u00a0125% of our emissions\u00a0<\/span>each year, starting in 2020<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>We expanded<\/span>\u00a0our carbon management program to offset sources of emissions beyond our\u00a0<\/span>trips and offices<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 like offsetting our customers\u2019 flights, and double offsetting our Polar Expeditions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. To\u00a0<\/span>set a<\/span>\u00a0science-based target to reduce emissions<\/span>\u00a0(more on this later!)<\/span>, to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>ensure our business will be on track for low-carbon growth.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. To\u00a0<\/span>transition to 100% renewable energy<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>all\u00a0<\/span>our offices\u00a0<\/span>around the world\u00a0<\/span>by 2025, and on our trips by 2030.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. To b<\/span>e\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0first travel company in Australia to invest in green deposits<\/span>, which<\/span>\u00a0support assets and projects consistent with delivering a low carbon economy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. To continue\u00a0<\/span>empowering women around the worl<\/span>d\u00a0<\/span>to ensure sustainable growth, through projects such as\u00a0<\/span>Eden Reforestation Projects<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in Kenya.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. To\u00a0<\/span>continue to invest in research and innovative solutions. We\u2019ve already raised more than $650K for the Seaweed project with the film 2040, the Climate Foundation and the University of Tasmania, and will be funding $100k for Antarctic climate change research in a bid to help preserve the Antarctic.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Setting verified science-based targets<\/h3>\n
    \"Travellers\"Travellers<\/a><\/p>\n

    \u201cOur hope is that we can use this a rallying cry to the entire industry to take meaningful collective action on climate as a critical priority in travel\u2019s post-COVID recovery.\u201d Image by Damien Raggatt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    I am thrilled to share with you all that we are the first tour operator with approved science-based target<\/span>s,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>verified by the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Business has a vital role to play in helping limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5\u00b0C and building the net-zero carbon economy of the future.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    This is why<\/span>\u00a0Intrepid Travel has joined other companies to set a science-based emission reduction target and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions at the pace and scale that science says is necessary to limit global warming to 1.5\u00b0C. We are responding to a call-to-action for companies to set emissions reduction targets in line with a 1.5\u00b0C future, backed by a global network of UN agencies, business, and industry leaders.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Setting science-based climate targets will see us reduce our emissions across our operations and supply chains for a 1.5 future. Our hope is that we can use this a rallying cry to the entire industry to take meaningful collective action on climate as a critical priority in travel\u2019s post-COVID recovery. We simply can\u2019t rebuild at the expense of the planet.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Introducing regenerative travel<\/h3>\n

    Asking \u201cwill my trip leave the planet in a better state than before?\u201d is key to travel rebounding more responsibly. We can\u2019t just focus on leaving lighter footprints. We must leave positive impacts on the people and places we visit, a concept known as\u00a0<\/span>regenerative travel<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Prior to the pandemic, the global tourism industry contributed to 8<\/span>\u00a0per cent<\/span>\u00a0of global GHG emissions and accounted for\u00a0<\/span>one\u00a0<\/span>in 10 jobs around the world. In the future, regardless of where we go, adopting sustainable and regenerative travel practices has never been more important.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Train\"Train<\/a><\/p>\n

    \u201cWhile not always possible, choosing alternatives to air\u00a0travel\u00a0is among the most impactful ways to reduce GHG emission on your trip.\u201d Image by Liam Neal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    While not always possible, choosing alternatives to air<\/span>\u00a0travel<\/span>\u00a0is among the most impactful ways to reduce GHG emission on your trip.\u00a0<\/span>As for getting to the starting point of one for our overseas trips, there is no perfect answer on this<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0However, in regions where it is possible to avoid flying, we encourage\u00a0<\/span>travellers<\/span>\u00a0to think about alternatives such as high-speed rail. And, if you can\u2019t avoid flying then my motto is to \u2018make it count\u2019. For example, when flying to Germany<\/a> from Austra<\/a><\/span>lia to visit family, I made sure I also included a visit to\u00a0<\/span>Intrepid\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0London office\u00a0<\/span>(using the Eurostar train to transit)\u00a0<\/span>and took time to attend a conference in Europe<\/a><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>so that my long-haul flight was put to good use!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    We\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>encourage\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>ravellers<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to carbon offset their flights<\/span>, regardless of whether they book them through us or another way<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>And f<\/span>rom 2020, all customers who book their airfares with Intrepid will have their flight offset by us.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Looking to the future of the industry<\/h3>\n
    \"Travellers\"Travellers<\/a><\/p>\n

    \u201cIt\u2019s our collective responsibility to ensure that the\u00a0travel\u00a0industry that is reborn out of this pandemic is one that gives back more than it takes away.\u201d Image by Matt Cherubino.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    COVID-19 has shown us that drastically reducing air travel is not the silver-bullet answer to neutralizing the climate threat<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0A multi-faceted approach is required<\/span>, which includes g<\/span>overnment<\/span>s,<\/span>\u00a0business operations, and consumer choices<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0with a<\/span>\u00a0focus on decarbonizing the travel industry through renewable energy, regenerative processes, sustainable development and building practices, climate-smart agriculture and circular economies and reductions in waste. To help other travel businesses\u00a0<\/span>on their journey<\/span>, we published\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>\u00a0\u2019<\/span>10-step Quick Start Guide to\u00a0<\/span>Decarbonise<\/span>\u00a0your Travel Business<\/span><\/a>\u2019.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    It\u2019s our collective responsibility to ensure that the\u00a0<\/span>travel\u00a0<\/span>industry that is reborn out of this pandemic is one that gives back more than it takes away.\u00a0<\/span>Together we can do what it takes to\u00a0<\/span>preserve the planet for\u00a0<\/span>ourselves and\u00a0<\/span>the next generation o<\/span>f\u00a0<\/span>travellers<\/span>\u00a0and the communities that call these places home.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Do you want to learn more about Intrepid\u2019s approach to responsible business and travel? Visit our website<\/a>, or follow us on Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> or Twitter<\/a> for updates.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    \u2013<\/p>\n

    Hero image by Martin Ruffo.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n