Ref. Ares(2022)2451656 - 01/04/2022
Global Business Travel Association
November 2021
Business travel is fundamental to the world economy and brings many benefits in terms of international
connections and wealth creation. However, climate change is a global threat and responsible
governments, industries and corporations must continue to work together to reduce carbon emissions
and operate in a more sustainable manner.
GBTA calls on the EU institutions to consider the most cost-efficient policies to help towards the 2030 and
2050 decarbonization goals.
The Paris Agreement has set a goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C and countries across the globe are
working towards the goal of reaching net zero by 2050. To achieve this and balance the demand for travel,
future European transport system must provide consumers with sustainable alternatives, for them to
make a sound environmental decision when choosing transport modes for any part of their itinerary.
However, the industry must also do its part. To that end, GBTA’s membership representing both buyer
and supplier corporations are striving to support environmentally sustainable travel. GBTA believes in the
importance and contribution of every transport mode for a well-functioning, connected and seamless
transport system.
GBTA POLICY STATEMENTS
GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABILTY
Governments should actively identify ways in which to encourage corporations to adopt more
sustainable practices. This will be an evolving basket of measures: for aviation this could be
alternative fuels, technological development, more efficient air traffic management; for the
lodging sector this could be environmentally friendly building design incorporating renewable
energy and efficient water usage; support of LEED certification; automatic lights out mechanism
when out of room; re-use of towels and reduction in single use plastics.
GBTA supports exploration, development and use of alternative fuels for air travel and other
travel modes. GBTA opposes use of taxes to suppress travel and believes any taxes should support
these alternative fuels and other travel modes.
GLOBAL AIR EMISSIONS
A global approach on air emissions is critical to avoiding patchwork and potentially retaliatory set
of rules and enforcements. GBTA supports the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for
International Aviation or “CORSIA,” which calls for carbon-neutral growth in international
commercial aviation beginning in 2021.
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TAKING ACTION
The business travel community understand the negative impacts travel can have on the environment and
is taking action. GBTA encourages the government to set up greater information sharing amongst the
private and public sectors. In this respect, as an association representing many players in the business
travel industry, GBTA remains available to provide additional expertise and engage in a constructive
dialogue with the European institution.
Companies that deal in international travel are taking steps now to address their impact on the
environment. Some examples include:
Companies committing to reducing business travel carbon emission intensity by 50% relative to
pre-pandemic levels by 2030 by reducing, decarbonizing and substituting.
Established environmentally sustainable guidelines for meetings and events, and for all modes of
business travel — including air, hotel, rail (new section of policy), and ground transportation — to
strongly encourage virtual meetings, hybrid options, and more sustainable means of
transportation when booking business travel.
Implemented a preferred Rail Program in Europe in Q2 2021 and finalizing a US program in Q3
2021.
Companies integrating guidelines and values into their “Global Meetings and Events” and “Travel
and Expense” policies to scale them across the company, and also configuring their online booking
tool to nudge best practices into the travel-booking process. For example, some companies
activated a policy communication mechanism in the online booking tool to provide guidance for
specific routes and to recommend the mode of travel (for example, rail versus air versus hybrid
car rental) that has the smallest carbon footprint.
Other companies are focusing on key priorities:
1.
Measuring Our Footprint. We have established a global carbon accounting system in accordance
with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, and we independently verify our emissions against
the ISO 14064-3 standard
2.
Reducing Our Footprint. To reduce the climate impact of our operations and those of companies
in our end-to-end value chain, we have set targets that encompass the full scope of emissions.
This includes reducing direct energy and electricity emissions (Scope 1& Scope 2) by 90% per full-
time-equivalent employee (FTE) and business travel emissions (Scope 3) by 30% per FTE by 2025
(against our 2018 baseline year).
3.
Mitigating Our Remaining Footprint. We will transition to 100% CO2 removal carbon credits,
including nature-based and engineered solutions, to meet our net-zero climate impact pledge by
2030
CONCLUSION
Some companies found emissions from business travel were down approximately 80% due to Covid
pandemic & related travel restrictions.
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Companies are using the unique opportunity provided by the pandemic and are reassessing business
travel policies and procedures.
The business travel industry is committed to tackling climate change. GBTA remains available throughout
the legislative process to provide industry expertise from the business travel industry
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