climate change
Climate change is one of the most critical issues the world is facing today. Scientists are telling us that we must act with urgency to reduce our carbon emissions if we are going to stop catastrophic irreversible impacts to our precious home.
Here at Intrepid, we've taken a long hard look at all our operations and have initiated various actions to reduce our contributions to global warming. We're also endeavouring to help empower our staff and travellers to participate in emissions reductions measures.
carbon neutral
In December 2006, Intrepid Travel announced the goal of becoming a carbon neutral company in 2010. It was a massive goal but we are proud to say that we have achieved it! We're pretty chuffed to be able to announce that Intrepid Travels business emissions (globally) are now carbon neutral and will have (net) zero carbon emissions from 2010 and every year there after!
In our journey toward carbon neutrality, Intrepid underwent a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of our business. This was to help us recognise our impacts and identify the main sources of carbon emissions from our operations. From this process, we identified that our corporate emissions (offices and retail stores- globally), our trips and the flights that our passengers take to join an Intrepid tour, were our main sources of carbon emissions. We needed to come up with a way to address these areas and so the Carbon Management Plan was created.
our carbon management plan in a nutshell
Intrepid's carbon management plan is made up of the following principles:
A. Measure
This principle involves reviewing what Intrepid already measures and understanding what we need to measur and monitor in order to be carbon neutral. We identified what we need to be measured by:
- reviewing CO2 data we were already capturing
- setting our organisational and operational boundariesboundaries (ie what emissions were we responsible for)
- creating a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory. The inventory is just a compilation of the different sources (within our boundary) which produce emissions that contribute to Climate Change (ie- electricity, business travel, waste etc).
As identified in the LCA, we concentrate on capturing data relating to our:
- corporate emissions
- trips
- passenger flights
B. Avoid/Reduce
This principle involves Intrepid looking at activities through which emissions can either be avoided. eg. not having a light on in a vacant room or be reduced which decreases the intensity of the carbon emissions from activities that often can not be avoided. (eg. making lighting more efficient through the use of "greener" globes, using a more fuel efficient vehicle etc)
For emissions stemming from all Intrepid offices/retail stores (this includes offshore companies where Intrepid has operational/policy control), Intrepid has put together a list of practical ways in which our offices and stores can avoid or reduce their footprint, including switching to an alternative energy source that may include sourcing from renewable sources or by exchanging fuel sources so that GHG impact is minimised eg. Converting to green energy to power the office.
With Intrepid trips - they are low impact relative to other group travel due to their design. We travel in small groups, use local transport where we can and encourage our passengers to eat and shop in local eateries and stores.
Flights - we offer passengers an opportunity to offset their flights when they book their airfare through Intrepid to try and reduce total net impact of the trip. All Intrepid staff flights for business are offset
C. Assess
This principle is used to reconcile all the actions and initiatives to reducing our carbon footprint and match them up to our objectives. Are we achieving our reduction targets? If not, a review will need to be conducted and new, feasible reduction opportunities will need to be sought.
D. Offset
A carbon offset is any project or initiative that indirectly reduces GHG emissions at one source by investing in GHG emissions reductions elsewhere - effectively balancing out GHG emissions.
Intrepid offsets
- all residual emissions from its offices and stores (globally)
- all Intrepid trips (where Intrepid maintains pricing control)
- offers offsets on flights for passengers booking their airfare through Intrepid
Intrepid ensures that the offsets purchased are:
- cost effective
- have accreditation according to a recognised international standard
- offered by an offset provider who is independently verified
- able to offer other benefits as well as carbon offsetting such as local employment or other economic contribution to the local communities where the projects are based (preferred but not essential)
Offsets are reviewed annually and information regarding the rigour in the science and methodologies as well as the providers behind offset products will be monitored.
This plan will see Intrepid manage our carbon emissions and minimise our negative impact on the environment.
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