In a landmark decision, the European Parliament has approved a pioneering regulation, CountEmissionsEU, aimed at transforming how transport emissions are measured across the continent. This strategic move is poised to revolutionize the business travel sector by facilitating a uniform, reliable method for gauging travel’s environmental impact.

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), a leading voice in the sector, has hailed the adoption of this framework, which is anticipated to drive a significant shift towards sustainable travel choices among business professionals. The GBTA foresees a future where travellers are better informed and more inclined to choose greener alternatives by offering a standard method to compare travel emissions across various transport modes and providers.

This development comes after the GBTA’s 2023 report, “The State of Climate Action in Business Travel – Global Industry Barometer,” which revealed a growing trend among corporate travel managers to monitor and manage their travel emissions. According to the study, 64% of managers tracked their travel programs’ emissions in 2023, showing a notable increase from 55% the previous year. The new EU regulation is set to simplify these efforts by providing a unified methodology to assess travel emissions, thereby reducing the complexities currently faced by travel managers due to varying calculation methods.

Further bolstering this initiative, the European Parliament has advocated for the International Standards Organization (ISO) methodology chosen for emissions calculation to be freely accessible or offered at a reduced rate. This measure is intended to ease operators’ adoption and spur widespread compliance.

In addition, the GBTA supports the Parliament’s call for data intermediaries offering multimodal travel options to furnish consumers with detailed emissions data. This transparency is crucial in empowering travellers to make environmentally conscious decisions, particularly when selecting multimodal travel options, which blend different forms of transport to reduce overall emissions.

The EU Commission’s push for a Multimodal Digital Mobility Services (MDMS) regulation is also seen as vital. It is expected to enhance the availability of multimodal travel options, further supporting the green transition in the travel industry.

Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA, expressed optimism about the collaborative efforts with EU policymakers to refine and expand the impact of the regulation. “We anticipate this initiative will be a stepping stone towards establishing a global standard for transport emissions accounting,” Neufang remarked.

As Europe moves into its next legislative cycle (2024-2029), the GBTA has also outlined vital priorities to ensure the business travel sector remains at the forefront of the region’s competitiveness and ecological advancements. This strategic approach underscores the pivotal role of sustainable business travel in shaping the future of Europe’s economic and environmental landscape.

Written by: Michelle Warner

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