Intrepid Travel Abandons Carbon Offsets for More Meaningful Climate Action

In a bold move challenging industry norms, adventure tour operator Intrepid Travel has announced it’s abandoning its long-standing carbon offset program to pursue more direct climate action. After maintaining carbon neutrality since 2010 through offsets, the certified B Corp has acknowledged that despite best intentions, their emission reduction targets have remained out of reach—not due to lack of effort, but largely because of insufficient government action on renewable energy and sustainable aviation fuels. This decision represents a profound shift in how travel companies might approach their environmental responsibilities moving forward, with Intrepid co-founder Darrel Wade and CEO James Thornton admitting that while carbon offsets once “served an important purpose,” they no longer match the “scale or immediacy” of our climate crisis. Instead of continuing down this path, the company is redirecting approximately €1.13 million annually toward immediate decarbonization efforts that attack the problem at its source.

The company’s revamped climate action strategy takes aim at operational emissions through several practical measures. Intrepid plans to convert its owned and leased vehicles to electric models, install renewable energy systems in its offices and hotels, and source lower-carbon fuel alternatives for transportation needs. Perhaps more significantly, they’re extending their influence across their extensive supply chain by working with over 10,000 suppliers to help them decarbonize through similar initiatives. This includes an innovative approach to sustainability in developing regions—providing loans to suppliers in countries like Nepal and India so they can purchase their own electric vehicles and install solar panels in tourist accommodations such as homestays. These efforts demonstrate a recognition that meaningful climate action in the tourism sector requires not just corporate commitments but collaborative approaches that empower partners throughout the ecosystem to make similar transformations.

The travel company is also rethinking the very nature of the experiences it offers, developing more domestic and short-haul products that reduce the need for long-haul flights, while also increasing flight-free itineraries altogether. This strategic pivot acknowledges the uncomfortable reality that traditional carbon offset programs have increasingly come under scrutiny from scientists and climate activists who question their effectiveness and, in some cases, point to harmful consequences. The problem with carbon credits is fundamental: they create an illusion of environmental responsibility while doing little to actually reduce emissions from flying. At best, these programs theoretically neutralize carbon already released, but don’t prevent its release in the first place. At worst, they may actually encourage more air travel by alleviating travelers’ guilt, allowing them to avoid what some call “flygskam” or “flight shame” without meaningfully changing behavior patterns that drive climate change.

The science behind carbon offsetting has grown increasingly problematic, particularly regarding tree planting and forest protection schemes that constitute about a quarter of credits on the voluntary carbon market. A 2023 Berkeley University study delivered a devastating assessment, concluding that “current REDD+ methodologies likely generate credits that represent a small fraction of their claimed climate benefit.” Beyond questions of effectiveness, investigations have uncovered troubling social impacts, including instances where offset projects resulted in Indigenous peoples and local communities being forcibly displaced from their traditional lands. For offsets to have any legitimate value, they must be verifiable, maintained for the long term, and demonstrably “additional”—meaning they represent actions that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. Too often, carbon credit schemes fail to meet these basic criteria, turning them into little more than marketing tools that give travelers a false sense of environmental responsibility while climate impacts continue unabated.

For travelers seeking to reduce their environmental impact, the most effective approach remains avoiding flights whenever possible. Taking a train instead of a short-haul flight in Europe can slash emissions by over 85 percent, and Europe’s rail renaissance has made long-distance train journeys more accessible, comfortable, and often comparable in travel time when accounting for airport security and check-in procedures. Train travel offers numerous advantages beyond environmental benefits: freedom to move around rather than being confined to a small airplane seat, generous luggage allowances, family-friendly carriages, and on longer journeys, comfortable sleeping accommodations that can even save on hotel costs. Digital platforms like Omio and Trainline have simplified finding routes and booking tickets across multiple countries and rail systems, removing many of the traditional barriers to train travel.

When air travel is unavoidable, mindful choices can still reduce impact. Selecting airlines that use sustainable aviation fuel, choosing economy seating (as business class passengers occupy more space and thus account for proportionally higher emissions), and opting for larger commercial aircraft rather than small planes all make meaningful differences. Intrepid’s transparent approach to these challenges—including having their progress independently verified and published in annual reports—sets a new standard for accountability in the travel industry. As Wade and Thornton candidly acknowledge: “Intrepid, and frankly the entire travel industry, is not on track to achieve a 1.5C future, and more urgent action is required if we are to get even close.” Their decision to abandon carbon offsets in favor of direct decarbonization reflects a maturing understanding that preserving travel experiences for future generations requires honest assessment of current practices and willingness to pursue more fundamental changes, even when they challenge established industry conventions.