As World Environment Day on 5 June puts climate action firmly in the global spotlight, World Expeditions Travel Group is calling on the tourism industry to move beyond carbon offsetting and prioritise real emissions reduction, transparency and accountability across all areas of operation. Founded in 1975 on the principles of environmental responsibility and human-powered travel, the adventure travel pioneer says climate action must sit at the centre of tourism’s future.
“We acknowledge that the travel industry depends entirely on healthy natural environments and stable communities, yet tourism is contributing to the climate crisis threatening those very places,” said Sue Badyari, CEO of World Expeditions who was named Sustainable Champion of the Year at the 2025 Women in Travel Awards.
“It’s no secret that the impact of climate change is already being felt across the environments and communities in which we operate, from melting glaciers and biodiversity loss to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns affecting remote regions and local livelihoods.
“Climate action can no longer rely on carbon offsetting alone. We have sharpened our focus on transparency, accountability and reducing emissions at source. For World Expeditions, climate action is not a trend or a campaign attached to a single day of the year; it is embedded in our brand DNA – in how we design trips, operate globally and think about the future of travel.”
World Expeditions is strengthening its climate initiatives through trip-by-trip carbon labelling, annual footprint reporting and practical emissions reduction strategies across its operations and supply chain.
A key reduction initiative involves working alongside accommodation providers and encouraging them to measure their environmental impact using the e-collective accommodation calculator, which provides a snapshot of an accommodation’s total annual carbon footprint and estimated carbon footprint per room per night. The tool also benchmarks results against national averages, helping operators better understand their relative impact and identify opportunities for improvement.
“This initiative is designed to support accommodation providers in developing carbon reduction plans, undertaking more detailed emissions measurement and setting achievable annual reduction targets,” continues Badyari. “World Expeditions believes practical collaboration and transparency across the tourism supply chain are essential to delivering meaningful long-term emissions reductions.
“Travellers increasingly want to understand the environmental impact of their choices, and we believe the industry should make that information easily accessible,” said Badyari. “Carbon labelling is about accountability, but it’s also about encouraging better conversations around what responsible travel looks like in a climate-conscious future.”
Every World Expeditions trip now has a Carbon Label, allowing travellers to view the estimated carbon footprint of their journey before booking. Designed to function like a nutritional label on food packaging, the system provides clear and transparent CO2 estimates intended to help travellers better understand their impact while holding the company accountable for ongoing emissions reduction.
Alongside this work, the World Expedition Foundations’ Regenerative 2030 program supports projects aligned with carbon action and promotes regeneration that goes beyond simply minimising impact.
The company also continues to engage travellers directly in environmental stewardship initiatives through programs such as its long-running “10 Pieces” campaign, which encourages travellers and guides worldwide to collect at least ten pieces of litter while exploring trails and natural environments.
“Travel has the power to build understanding, support conservation and strengthen communities, but the industry must also be honest about its environmental impact,” Badyari added. “We believe transparency, accountability and continuous improvement are essential if tourism is to remain a positive force in a climate-changed world.”
