Intrepid Travel’s not-for-profit organisation is advancing its climate action through a new partnership with the Blue Carbon Lab, which conducts cutting-edge research into a little-known, but incredibly powerful climate change solution, called blue carbon.
Under the partnership, The Intrepid Foundation has donated $81,000 to Blue Carbon Lab and Intrepid’s team members also have the opportunity to join the lab’s researchers in the field as citizen scientists.
Blue carbon ecosystems are coastal wetlands of mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrasses, which draw down carbon from the earth’s atmosphere at up to 50 times faster than trees and then lock it away in the ground – helping to slow global warming. They also provide protection against flooding and extreme weather events and provide nursery ground for fish and habitat for birds.
Despite the immense potential of Blue Carbon to help sequester carbon dioxide, the world has already lost up to 65 per cent of these ecosystems globally. Australia is home to between five and 11 per cent all blue carbon stocks – the most in the world.
This is one way that Intrepid is committed to taking action on climate change. Pre-pandemic, the travel and tourism sector contributed to about eight per cent of the world’s greenhouse emissions. Intrepid is committed to decarbonizing its business via its seven-step climate commitment plan, which includes investing in nature-based solutions.
During December 2021, 20 Intrepid citizen scientists worked alongside the Blue Carbon Lab team, led by Dr Melissa Wartman, to conduct experiments that will help protect and restore wetlands in Altona, Melbourne. Intrepid’s Chief People and Purpose Officer Natalie Kidd, Chief Operating Officer Tom Beadle and Environmental Impact Specialist Dr Susanne Etti were among those in the field.
“It was a fantastic and empowering experience to work alongside these scientists who are doing cutting-edge research into climate solutions,” said Natalie Kidd, Intrepid’s Chief People and Purpose Officer. 
“Intrepid is committed to taking real action on climate change and I’m proud we can offer our team this hands-on opportunity to actually be part of the solution,” Kidd added.
The Intrepid Foundation has previously supported research and restoration of nature-based climate solutions and restoration projects that support local communities. This includes partnering with The Climate Foundation in 2019 to fund through the University of Tasmania for Australia’s first marine permaculture platform. In addition, the Intrepid Forest in Kijabe, Kenya aims to plant nearly one million trees with Eden Reforestation Projects.
Intrepid Travel has been carbon neutral since 2010 and is the only global tour operator with verified science-based carbon emissions targets.
