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FAQs: Carbon offsetting and corporate travel
What is carbon offsetting?
Carbon offsetting is an internationally recognised way to take responsibility for unavoidable carbon emissions. It is about funding projects around the world that help reduce carbon emissions by a measurable and verifiable amount.
Is carbon offsetting the solution to climate change?
In simple terms, the only solution to climate change is to reduce all human-made greenhouse gas emissions to zero. Ultimately, this will be achieved by decarbonising electricity generation and transport, stopping deforestation and planting more trees and reducing emissions from farming. Whilst progress is being made in these areas, there is still work to be done. In the short term, carbon offsetting is one way of neutralising your carbon footprint.
Why is the corporate travel industry talking about carbon offsetting?
Travel and tourism is responsible for roughly 8% of the world’s carbon emissions, making it a significant contributor to global climate change. Since the events of 2020, there has been a noticeable shift in general attitudes to climate change, with the sustainable changes that many have made to their personal lives now looking to be replicated when it comes to corporate actions.
For instances in which corporate travel is necessary, it’s important that corporates feel that they are doing everything within their power to limit its impact on the environment.
How does carbon offsetting work?
Companies and individuals can ‘offset’ the impact of some of the carbon emissions produced by their flights, ground transportation and other travel activities by purchasing carbon credits and investing in projects that reduce or store carbon. These projects include renewable energy generation, improving energy efficiency, reducing deforestation and planting more trees.
Carbon credits are issued once these carbon savings have been made and verified. These carbon credits can then be purchased and used to offset the unavoidable emissions of other individuals and organisations. One carbon offset credits represent 1 metric ton of CO2e reduced or averted from the atmosphere.
How can I ensure my carbon offsetting is verified?
It’s important to ensure that any carbon offsetting project that your organisation is involved with has been verified and/or certified by an independent third-party organisation. Look out for projects and initiatives that can provide your organisation with annual certification as proof of your contribution.
How can I make that first step towards making corporate travel carbon-neutral?
It’s useful to take the time to review how your organisation travels and to identify whether there are any frequent trips that could become virtual meetings, or if more carbon efficient forms of transport can be chosen. After you’ve taken steps to reduce travel, it’s then time to look at offsetting the remaining travel. ATPI Halo has been created to help support your organisation, reduce its carbon footprint and aid your sustainability strategy.
Does ATPI offer a carbon offsetting program?
ATPI has created its own carbon offsetting service, ATPI Halo. ATPI Halo is a proactive step towards changing the way the corporate travel sector views sustainable travel and to pioneer industry-leading approaches to making travel greener.
What is ATPI Halo?
ATPI Halo is a carbon measurement, reduction and offset service designed by travel management experts. Empowering your organisation by offering maximum choice and total transparency, ATPI Halo partners with world-leading offset projects to aid you in supporting ESG strategies that fit with your company culture.
How can ATPI Halo help my organisation support my organisation’s ESG strategy?
ATPI Halo supports you in making your travel more sustainable by offering:
- Choice: Access to multiple top quality carbon credit projects from trusted providers such as Respira and EcoAct.
- Certification: All initiatives provide annual certification for contributors; ensuring transparency, proving sustainability credentials and supporting ESG initiatives.
- Consultancy: Work with a team of travel management experts to develop a tailored approach to sustainable travel that works for your organisation.
What are some of the carbon offsetting projects that ATPI Halo supports?
Each of the sustainability projects available via ATPI Halo was selected due to its correlation with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. ATPI Halo offers organisations the ability to directly contribute to projects such as the reforestation of degraded forests in Ghana, reducing fuel use and lowering household pollution in Nepal and delivering renewable, affordable and clean electricity in Nicaragua.
