For responding organizations with a climate action strategy in place, restructuring itineraries (49%) and offsetting carbon emissions (42%) is where they plan to focus next. One-third (35%) intend to adapt meals.
In November 2019, the ATTA distributed a survey to adventure travel businesses to establish a baseline understanding of climate action within the industry. Respondents were asked about their knowledge and attitudes related to climate change, climate action strategies currently adopted and planned for the near future, barriers to implementation and opportunities for further support.
This survey data informed a new research report, The State of Climate Action in the Adventure Travel Industry, developed in partnership with sustainability leader Intrepid Travel. Both organizations are committed to catalyzing industry action and accelerating the reduction of travel's contribution to global emissions.
Key findings from the report include:
- Responding organizations rate their knowledge of climate change to be fairly high, but they struggle with what to do about it.
- Over half of all respondents (52%) say they have a partial or full climate action strategy.
- Sustainably sourcing food (68%) and purchasing from more sustainable suppliers (66%) are the most commonly implemented climate action strategies.
- For responding organizations with a climate action strategy in place, restructuring itineraries (49%) and offsetting carbon emissions (42%) is where they plan to focus next. One-third (35%) intend to adapt meals.
- 71% of respondents do not measure their carbon footprint. Among organizations that do measure their carbon footprint, 78% offset those emissions.
- Over two-thirds (68%) of responding organizations are working to build consumer awareness and behavioral change to support a reduced carbon footprint.
- The majority of adventure businesses (56%) are not engaged yet with carbon removal.
- Cost (50%), difficulty understanding and evaluating the options (43%), and time (37%) are the top three barriers to implementing climate action strategies.
- The State of Climate Action in the Adventure Travel Industry report offers valuable insights into how adventure travel businesses are being affected by climate change, what they are doing to mitigate these impacts, and the next steps for education and collective action.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
