Why the travel & tourism industry is wrong to embrace net zero

Pic: VOO QQQ (CC0) via Unsplash.

Sensible and rigorous environmentalism in travel & tourism is desirable, according to Ken Scott. However, the premature pursuit of net zero when the most promising technologies aren’t ready is an unnecessary act of self harm for the industry, he argues.

It’s a “Good Tourism” Insight.

I consider myself a sensible and practical environmentalist. But I want to share with you why I believe net zero is a severely misguided policy. I’m going to lay out my arguments below. I’m going to challenge the orthodoxy.

Let me get my retaliation in first. Yes, I depend on the travel industry for a living. But the truth is, I could probably make more money as a PR professional for the travel sector by going along with the net zero agenda i.e. by not rocking the boat. But I’m not going to. What I’m seeing and hearing on net zero doesn’t add up. Not by a long chalk.

So here we go.

A costly capitulation to the net zero agenda for travel & tourism
Based on the evidence so far, the travel industry seems to have essentially capitulated to the net zero agenda. Without thinking it through and fighting its corner, the global travel industry has, in effect, pledged to take on board a whole lot of extra costs and burdens and be held accountable to a frankly unworkable road map.

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I believe it’s a massive mistake for six reasons:

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