Climate change is here, it’s real and it’s already reshaping the destinations travel agents and their clients know and love. From wildfires in Greece and droughts in Kenya to hurricanes across the Caribbean, the impacts are increasingly visible.

It can feel overwhelming, but scientists say there is still time to act. Hosting the first TTG Sustainable Travel Heroes workshop for 2026, focused on reducing carbon emissions, TTG's Pippa Jacks reminded agents that meaningful progress is still possible. “If [the world] gets serious about reducing those planet-warming gases now, we can slow the effects of climate change,” she said.

For travel agents, caring about the world often comes naturally – but carbon can feel like a complicated, intimidating and sometimes unnecessary topic to get to grips with. It doesn’t have to be. Here are five practical carbon reality checks every travel agent should know, and how they can help shape business decisions and sales conversations.

1. Aviation isn’t the only carbon culprit

According to Sustainable Travel International, tourism accounts for roughly 8% of global carbon emissions. Aviation is a significant player in this, making up around a quarter of that figure, while another 25% comes from other forms of transport – with car travel a major factor.

But transport is only part of the picture. The remaining half comes from overlooked parts of tourism including food and drink, lodgings, construction and mining. “Actually, building a hotel in the first place is really carbon intensive,” Jacks pointed out during the workshop.

Looking beyond flights opens up more opportunities for agents to influence holiday choices in a carbon-conscious way.

iStock / Rich Higgins

2. The reality of your client's holiday emissions 

To put holiday emissions into perspective, Jacks shared examples comparing the carbon impact of different trips.

A three-night stay in a five-star hotel in Dubai, with business-class flights, can have roughly double the carbon footprint of a 14-night economy trip to a three-star hotel in Costa Rica. This is down to luxury accommodation and business class flights both requiring more space per guest, more amenities and higher staff-to-guest ratios – all of which increase emissions. Meanwhile, the Costa Rica accommodation runs off a grid using 100% renewable energy. 

Cruising can also be carbon intensive. A 15-night, five-star ocean cruise departing from Southampton emits more than double the Dubai itinerary above. That said, Jacks highlighted the cruise industry is working to improve, with developments including LNG-powered ships and greater investment in renewable energy.

3. Agencies can commit to making a difference now

Launched at COP26 in 2021, the Glasgow Declaration is an initiative that unites global travel and tourism businesses committed to cutting emissions in half by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Those who sign up are asked to measure their emissions and report progress annually to the United Nations. 

And it isn’t just the major operators getting involved – travel agencies of all sizes can sign up too. Jacks highlighted Deben Travel in Suffolk as an example of an agency making that commitment – helping reduce its impact while boosting its credibility as a business.

Jessica Reid

4. Focus on what you can control

A reassuring takeaway for agents is that they don’t need to calculate the carbon footprint of every package holiday they sell. Instead, there are practical opportunities much closer to home – and agents can start doing this today (see further down for some of our Ambassador's plans to reduce their carbon footprint).

For small businesses and homeworkers, that can mean switching to a 100% renewable energy tariff (offered now by most mainstream energy providers), choosing recycled or refurbished laptops and printers instead of buying brand-new tech, cutting unnecessary printing and altering the commute to work.

“These are all things that you should be able to directly control – versus the holidays you can influence,” said Jacks.

5. Tree planting is NOT a quick fix

Carbon offsetting can seem like an easy solution, but Jacks urged agents to approach it carefully, describing the market as a “wild west”.

Many offsetting schemes aren’t independently monitored, meaning there’s no guarantee they deliver on what they promise. And while tree planting can play a role, it can take years for a sapling to mature and make any significant impact. 

Jacks warned: “It can be a bit of a distraction from the urgent need to reduce emissions."

Instead, agents are encouraged to look at supporting wider biodiversity projects, such as Amazon conservation and wetland restoration, which can deliver long-term environmental protection. 

How the TTG Ambassadors in Training are reducing their carbon emissions

 

Emma Norman, ROAM Travel

"We want to encourage clients to consider slower, more thoughtful travel. Through the journeys we curate, we aim to promote fewer, longer and more meaningful trips, while working with suppliers and partners whose values align with more responsible tourism practices."

 

 

Zoe Pope, EBO Travel

"We are going to look into buying any necessary stationary from more ethical sources, such as deforestation-free paper providers – which we will only use when really necessary! We are also buying recycled or second-hand items for our work space and for personal use, instead of buying all new!"

 

 

Sarah Meadowcroft, Global Travel and Cruise

"Both at home and at the premises, I can look into upgrading all lighting to low-energy LED systems and ensuring lights and electrical equipment are switched off when not in use. I will also improve energy efficiency in the stores by using smart thermostats, improving insulation where possible, and replacing older equipment with more energy-efficient alternatives."

 

Claire Masse, Frangipani Holidays

"I can move towards a more paper-light business, offering clients at booking digital itineraries instead of paper. I can also look at reducing physical brochure ordering and rely more on digital supplier assets and get in touch with suppliers who send me brochures to ask them to send me digital copies instead." 

 

 

 

 

David Hugo, Wayfarers World Travel

"The business has already taken some steps to reduce energy consumption – in particular by ensuring that PCs, lights and the printer are powered off when the office closes. Guernsey Electricity do suggest various other measures to help reduce the energy usage and consequent emissions caused by businesses."

 

 

Learn more about the TTG Sustainable Travel Heroes programme