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The travel and tourism industry is responsible for about 8% of global carbon emissions. As concerns about climate change grow, businesses and travellers are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact. Carbon replacement schemes (also known as carbon offsetting) are one important solution that allows the industry to take responsibility for its emissions.
Key Definitions:
Travel and tourism activities especially air travel produce significant carbon emissions. A single long-haul flight can generate more CO₂ than some people produce in an entire year. Carbon replacement schemes help the industry take responsibility for these emissions while working towards more sustainable practices.
Since 2005, carbon offsetting in travel has grown by over 140%. Today, more than 30% of major airlines offer some form of carbon offsetting option and tourism businesses increasingly include carbon replacement as part of their sustainability strategies.
Carbon replacement schemes follow a simple principle: for every tonne of carbon dioxide released by travel activities, an equivalent amount should be saved or removed elsewhere. This is typically achieved by investing in projects that either:
Projects that stop greenhouse gases being released in the first place, such as renewable energy projects or energy efficiency programmes.
Projects that take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, such as reforestation, forest conservation, or direct air capture technology.
Supporting the development of new technologies that will reduce carbon emissions in the future, such as sustainable aviation fuel research.
There are many different types of projects that travel companies can invest in as part of their carbon replacement strategies:
Trees absorb CO₂ as they grow, making forestry projects one of the most common types of carbon offset schemes.
For example, British Airways partners with forestry projects in the UK and South America, helping to plant millions of trees that will absorb carbon over their lifetime.
These projects replace fossil fuel energy with clean alternatives like wind, solar, or hydroelectric power.
TUI Group, one of the world's largest tourism companies, invests in wind farms in Turkey and solar projects in India to offset emissions from their flights and resort operations.
Some carbon replacement schemes focus on helping communities reduce their emissions while improving quality of life.
Examples include providing efficient cookstoves in developing countries (which reduce wood burning and deforestation) or installing biogas digesters that turn waste into clean energy.
Intrepid Travel became the world's largest carbon-neutral travel company in 2010. They follow a three-step approach:
Since 2010, Intrepid has offset more than 350,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions while also investing in developing lower-carbon alternatives for their tours.
Airlines are among the most active participants in carbon replacement schemes, as air travel produces significant emissions:
Many airlines offer passengers the option to pay extra to offset the emissions from their flight. For example, EasyJet calculates the carbon emissions of each flight and offers passengers the chance to contribute to offsetting projects during the booking process.
Some airlines offset all their flights automatically. For instance, since January 2020, British Airways has offset all emissions from its UK domestic flights, investing in verified carbon reduction projects around the world.
While carbon replacement schemes are an important tool for addressing climate impact, they do face some criticisms:
The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is a global scheme developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It requires airlines to offset any growth in CO₂ emissions from international flights above 2020 levels.
By 2027, this scheme will be mandatory for all international flights, potentially offsetting around 2.5 billion tonnes of CO₂ between 2021 and 2035. This represents the first global carbon pricing scheme covering an entire industry sector.
Not all carbon replacement schemes are created equal. When evaluating a scheme's quality, consider these factors:
Would the carbon reduction have happened anyway, or is it truly additional? Good schemes fund projects that wouldn't exist without offset funding.
Is the scheme certified by respected bodies like Gold Standard or Verified Carbon Standard? These ensure the carbon savings are real and measurable.
Will the carbon reductions last? For example, forests might be cut down later or destroyed by fire, releasing stored carbon.
Carbon replacement schemes are evolving rapidly as the travel industry faces increasing pressure to address climate change:
As a traveller, you can support carbon replacement efforts in several ways:
Carbon replacement schemes are an important tool for the travel and tourism industry to address its environmental impact. While not perfect, they provide a way to take responsibility for emissions while the industry works on developing lower-carbon alternatives.
The most effective approaches combine carbon offsetting with active efforts to reduce emissions in the first place. When evaluating schemes, look for those with strong verification, permanence and additionality.
As a consumer, your choices can help drive the industry towards more sustainable practices, whether by supporting companies with strong environmental commitments or participating in offsetting programmes yourself.