Working with all stakeholders to accelerate the green transition

The Paris Agreement has set a goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C and countries across the globe are working towards reaching net zero by 2050.  

To impact change at the speed and scale needed, businesses, political leaders, and civil society need to be working hand in hand. 

GBTA identified a clear need from the global business travel industry to gain clarity on environmental regulations and standards that will provide a level playing field for sustainability efforts by the private sector.  

Ambitious, predictable, and cost-efficient policies are needed to help realize the green transition, from incentivizing the uptake and scaling up of new technologies, such as alternative fuels, to harmonized climate disclosure rules proportionate to the administrative burden.  

All new and updated legislation should also ensure that the costs of the transition do not fall unfairly onto the individual traveler or otherwise hinder the connectivity that underpins the global economy. 

How working with  policymakers will help make the green transition a reality: 

icons advocacy 01

Air

Incetivise the production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

icons advocacy 02

Road

Promote the deployment charging infrastructure for electric vehicles

icons advocacy 03

Rail

Improve rail infrastructure to enable multimodal travel options

icons advocacy 04

Accommodations

Provide incentives for energy efficient renovations of buildings

icons advocacy 05

Energy Mix

Set target to increase the share of clean energy in the energy mix

The State of Sustainability in the Global Business Travel Sector | 2022 Report

Business travel brings people together and fosters economic growth within and across national boundaries. For this to continue, however, the industry must ensure people can effectively connect in-person and conduct business globally while doing what is right for society and the planet.

The need to address sustainability is the driver behind this extensive, first-ever research study—”The State of Sustainability in the Global Business Travel Sector”—from GBTA and Grayling, a leading global public affairs and communications consultancy.

The 21-page GBTA benchmarking study provides in-depth insights from a survey of 762 global business travel buyers and suppliers professionals from four regions — Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. It also includes survey results from 100 external stakeholders including policy makers, think tanks and NGOs (non-governmental organizations).

The report explores and reveals insights in key areas:

  • Defining Sustainable Business Travel
    • Destination sustainability
    • Gathering data from across and beyond the industry
  • Embarking on the Sustainability Journey
    • Industry priorities, perceived barriers and removing barriers
  • The State of Sustainability in the Industry
    • Existing sustainability practices
    • External perceptions
  • Opportunities for Practical Change
    • How to: sustainable travel management
    • How to: sustainable suppliers
  • The Value of Partnerships
    • Guiding the industry
    • Traveling together
thumbnail image009

GBTA Sustainability Toolkit

toolkit image

A comprehensive guide for travel managers on how to manage and minimize the climate impact of their organization’s business travel

Why is this Toolkit?

Protecting our planet and people – which means fighting the disastrous impacts of climate change – requires collective and urgent efforts. 

As business leaders commit to their own net zero strategies, corporate travel managers are being asked to track and reduce emissions from business travel. 

The task is daunting. How to collect accurate data? How to account for emissions across the full business travel journey? What are credible alternatives to reduce emissions from travel? How can we encourage employees to choose greener travel options? And how to even recognize these sustainable travel options in the first place? 

The objective of this toolkit — which was designed by and for industry professionals — is to guide travel managers in their own sustainability journey and empower them to partner with their colleagues, employees, and suppliers to reduce the climate impact of business travel. 

How to Use This Toolkit?

GBTA’s toolkit is structured into 12 modules, organized into three parts, all accessible to GBTA members via the GBTA Hub (add link). The standalone modules can be read individually and in any order. However, GBTA recommends that  users go through them in sequential order, especially for travel managers who might be new to the topic of sustainability.   

  • Part A (Modules 1-3) provides an introduction to sustainability and sustainable travel management, with a focus on climate action and emissions reduction. 
  • Part B (Modules 4-7) dives into sustainability data and how to track, report and offset emissions from business travel. 
  • Part C (Modules 8-12) presents all the various levers at the disposal of travel managers to help reduce emissions from business travel. This includes how to educate their employee to  travel better and smarter and selecting greener suppliers with a deep dive into sustainable transport, accommodation and meetings and events.