Trafalgar, Contiki and Uniworld parent TTC said it would shift away from offsets to focus primarily on carbon reduction in what it described as a "major reset" of its climate action plan, one that seeks to accelerate its original climate action commitments with a view now to achieving net zero by 2050.

The two-pronged approach will broadly involve funding efforts to reduce carbon production and then reinforcing these efforts by investing in natural carbon removal solutions that will bolster biodiversity. TTC’s targets are fixed to 2021 net zero standards; they build on the group’s 2020 How We Tread Right sustainability strategy, which plotted a course to carbon neutrality by 2030.

Its not for profit Treadright foundation, meanwhile, will prioritise nature-based solutions. Several TTC brands, including Contiki, have already transitioned to carbon neutral operations. 

"Our focus is to identify a way forward that marries what the science is telling us with solutions to enable our decarbonisation," said Shannon Guihan, TTC chief sustainability officer and head of Treadright.

"We need to reduce our emissions and the surest way to do that is through direct investments into our business and our operations. The carbon fund, in concert with our TreadRight Foundation, enable us to invest in decarbonisation in two ways: by utilising the fund to reduce the emissions we produce, and by prioritising financial support for nature-based solutions through TreadRight."

TTC said its climate action plan was designed to evolve with the advent of new climate science, green technologies and business practices, allowing it to refocus its efforts around decarbonisation acknowledging how "emitting less carbon into the atmosphere is the most effective means to address climate change".

The group will aim to reduce scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline year, and scope 3 emissions by 27.5% during the same timeframe from purchased goods and services, business travel and use of sold products.

Its eventual ambition is to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions from its entire value chain by 2050 from the same baseline year.

TTC’s climate action goals – to measure, reduce, remove, offset and evolve its approach to carbon – have been reduced to four, with "remove" and "offset" being replace with "restore", with the Treadright Foundation’s focus on restorative, nature-based carbon removal solutions set to be key to this.

’Deep cuts’

The new carbon fund will be replenished through revenue generated by TTC’s brands ring-fenced for use solely on initiatives contributing to the group’s net zero journey. TTC will publicly report on its fund, as well as its progress against its science-based targets, with the first such report – on 2022 progress – due in the first half of 2023.

“Climate science tells us that we need rapid and deep emissions cuts if we are to achieve global net-zero and prevent the most damaging effects of climate change,” said SBTi chief executive Luiz Amaral. "The Travel Corporation’s net zero targets match the urgency of the climate crisis and set a clear example that their peers must follow.”

To achieve its decarbonisation ambitions, TTC has identified five main areas for focus.

• Reduce energy use and transition to low-carbon technology at Red Carnation Hotels;
• Generate and utilise renewable energy across all offices and facilities;
• Reduce fuel emissions from Uniworld ships;
• Secure zero emission vehicles for TTC’s Tour Brands; and
• Reduce the carbon footprint of trips in collaboration with the supply chain and destinations