The global travel and tourism industry has made progress in reducing its carbon footprint, cutting its share of global greenhouse gas emissions to 6.7% by the end of 2024, down from 7.6% in 2019. This reduction was largely driven by the shift to “renewable electrification” in ground transportation, which accounts for 40% of the sector’s carbon emissions.
However, Julia Simpson, president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), cautioned that while the proportion of emissions has decreased, absolute emissions continue to rise. This is due to the sector’s ongoing growth, as travel and tourism remain expanding industries.
“People often think that aviation is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s actually ground transportation—small delivery trucks and vehicles transporting customers,” Simpson explained during a media forum in Singapore. She called on governments to encourage the use of electric vehicles in the sector to help further reduce emissions.
Simpson also highlighted the aviation industry’s role as the second-largest source of emissions within travel and tourism. She urged governments to provide incentives for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a critical component in reducing aviation emissions. The aviation industry currently consumes 300 million tonnes of jet fuel annually, a figure projected to rise to 500 million tonnes by 2050, despite commitments to net-zero emissions.
At present, SAF consumption is minimal, with only one million tonnes used annually, making up just 0.3% of total aviation fuel. This share is expected to increase slightly to 0.5% in the coming years, but much more progress is needed to meet future sustainability goals.
