COP30 and sustainable business travel
Olivia Ruggles-Brise is vice president of sustainability at BCD Travel
While the recent COP30 summit that took place in Belém,
Brazil, did not fully meet the high expectations set by many in the climate
community – particularly around a binding commitment to phase out fossil fuels
and more ambitious emissions targets – it nonetheless marked important
progress. The summit delivered new pledges to triple adaptation finance and advance
harmonisation of carbon reporting standards, and saw unprecedented engagement
from both the public and private sectors.
The legitimacy and long-term relevance of the business
travel sector will increasingly depend on its willingness to lead on climate
action. Companies that embed sustainability in their travel programmes will be
better positioned to meet future requirements, manage risk, and capture
competitive advantage.
The disappointment voiced by many observers reflects the
scale of the challenge and the urgency for faster action. However, COP30’s
outcomes reinforce that waiting for perfect policy consensus is not an option.
SAF remains a critical lever
One of the most significant COP30 announcements for business
travel was the pledge to
quadruple sustainable fuel (SAF) production and use by 2035, known as the
Belém 4X initiative.
This is a voluntary, international pledge endorsed by 23
countries, including Brazil, Italy, Japan, and India. It is designed to
accelerate decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, with
technical support from the International Energy Agency. The goal is for sustainable
fuels to cover up to 15 per cent of global aviation demand by 2035, compared
to less than 1% today.
For travel managers, this
means: partnering with airlines committed to SAF purchase; exploring SAF
purchase agreements or credits to offset flight emissions; and communicating SAF
adoption as part of your sustainability narrative.
Scope 3 emissions and carbon reporting
COP30 amplified the focus on Scope 3 emissions, which
include indirect emissions from activities like business travel by advancing
global standards for carbon reporting and signalling a shift toward mandatory
disclosure.
Many organisations already report Scope 1 and 2 emissions, but
Scope 3 often represents the largest share of their carbon footprint, sometimes
up
to 90 per cent of total emissions for companies in particular sectors. This is
set against the backdrop of upcoming sustainability reporting regulations in
many parts of the world.
New
partnerships between the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and ISO are making it easier
and more consistent for organisations to measure and report these emissions. For
corporate travel, this means embedding carbon metrics into booking platforms,
using dashboards to monitor progress against reduction targets, and integrating
carbon data into procurement and reporting frameworks. Companies that proactively
manage and disclose travel emissions can strengthen their sustainability
credentials, meet growing investor expectations, and stay ahead of evolving
regulations.
The industry can no longer use uncertainty as an excuse for inaction when it comes to sustainability
Adaptation finance and climate resilience
Beyond emissions, COP30 delivered a major boost to
adaptation finance, pledging to double funding by 2025 and triple it by 2035. Adaptation
finance is funding which is dedicated to helping other countries, communities
and businesses adjust to the impacts of climate change such as extreme weather,
rising sea levels and infrastructure risks.
Unlike mitigation finance, which focuses on reducing emissions,
adaptation finance supports investments in resilience measures – such as flood
defenses, early warning systems or contingency planning – that help
organisations and travellers manage climate-related disruptions.
This matters for business travel because climate-related
disruptions such as extreme weather and infrastructure failures pose growing
risks to mobility and safety. Companies should integrate climate risk assessments into
travel policies and consider resilience measures such as diversified supplier
networks and contingency planning.
Sustainable business travel in corporate strategy
COP30 reinforced that the direction of policy, regulation,
and stakeholder expectation is clear: progress continues, and the industry can
no longer use uncertainty as an excuse for inaction when it comes to
sustainability. Companies that embed sustainability in their travel programmes will
be better positioned to meet future requirements, manage risk, and capture
competitive advantage. A recent GBTA survey found that 78%
of travel buyers consider sustainability a top priority, and the
developments we’ve seen at COP30 are likely to accelerate this trend.
Turning COP30 takeaways into action
Post-COP30, the message to business travel is clear – now is
not the time to take our eye off the ball. To stay ahead of regulatory changes,
meet stakeholder expectations, and contribute meaningfully to global climate
goals, travel managers and procurement leaders should undertake the following:
• Audit current emissions: Establish a baseline for your organisation’s
travel-related carbon footprint;
• Update travel policies: Encourage rail over air for short-haul routes and
promote hybrid meetings;
• Engage suppliers: Partner with those offering sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
options or carbon offset programmes;
• Invest in technology: Use tools that calculate emissions per booking and
suggest lower-carbon alternatives;
• Align reporting frameworks: Integrate carbon data into procurement decisions
and ensure reporting meets COP30-aligned standards for transparency;
• Communicate progress: Share sustainability achievements with stakeholders.
Choosing sustainability today means shaping tomorrow’s travel landscape. It’s a strategic move that reduces carbon impact and builds long-term business value.
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