United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Costing the Earth – TravelMole Guest Comment
The impact overseas travel has on the environment can no long be ignored, but what can we do to help to minimise it? TravelMole Guest Comment by Ajay Sodha, managing director of business travel agency Key Travel.
While Branson-style pledges are not feasible for the vast majority of companies there are many ways in which organisations and individuals can play their part in helping to save the environment – before time runs out.
The amount of Carbon Dioxide we are pumping into the atmosphere is increasing and overseas travel is the number one contributor.
We actively encourage our clients to offset the carbon emissions produced as a result of their airline travel through our online Carbon Calculator. The system runs a report of the client’s carbon emissions and then gives various options to offset this with partner organisations.
Key Travel recommends purchasing offsets that comply with the Gold Standard criteria e.g. energy efficiency or renewable energy projects which support the transition to non-fossil fuel based energy systems. These projects make a valid contribution to sustainable development and deliver a real additional emission saving. For information go to http://www.cdmgoldstandard.org
While personal and business travel account for a significant percentage of damage to the environment, most people’s biggest carbon emission output happens in the workplace.
Here are many things organisations can start to do now:
- Re-cycle of paper, vending cups, toner cartridges and IT equipment.
- Encourage staff to use public transport to attend meetings, conferences etc. where practicable.
- Limit staff parking facilities at the office in order to encourage the use of public transport for journeys to and from the workplace.
- Keep administration systems paperless and where possible keep all records electronically rather than paper files.
Phil Davies
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Foreign Office issues travel advisory for winter sun destinations