Strong alliance for the visibility of the climate footprint of travel: Travel companies and associations establish KlimaLink

The digital provision of data on greenhouse gas emissions for the travel industry on the basis of a reliable, uniform standard - this is the aim of the 22 founding members of the new "KlimaLink" association, which has now been established in the Klimahaus Bremerhaven.

Tourism industry contributes 8% to global emissions

This summer's extreme weather events have once again made it impressively clear - climate change is in full swing and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is more urgent than ever. The tourism industry wants to and will play an active, formative role here. The integrity of nature and living conditions in the destinations is the basis of existence for the travel industry. While travel in emerging and developing countries makes a significant contribution to value creation, job security and social stability, the industry also contributes to global warming with around eight percent of all emissions worldwide.

KlimaLink presents emissions data based on a uniform standard

A uniform standard for calculating CO2e emissions is required in order to achieve transparency for tour operators, distributors and travelers with regard to the climate-damaging emissions of the trips offered. Only in this way can the climate impact of travel be taken into account both in the design of the offer and in the travel decision. A corresponding uniform and reliable standard does not yet exist.

The KlimaLink association will close this gap: The aim is to provide emissions data digitally on the basis of a uniform CO2e calculation standard and to develop and update this data on a regular basis. Emissions data for all relevant travel components (flight, hotel, cruise, train, bus, car) are to be made available in a single data source (one-stop platform) for companies, but also for travelers.

22 Companies and associations establish KlimaLink

The KlimaLink association emerged from the Futouris industry project "Climate-conscious travel", in which an initial version of the common basis for calculating travel emissions was developed.

In addition to Futouris, the most important travel associations in the DACH region - Deutscher Reiseverband (DRV), Österreichischer ReiseVerband (ÖRV) and Schweizer Reise-Verband (SRV) - are founding members of KlimaLink, the Verband Internet Reisevertrieb (VIR) and the travel companies AERTicket, AER Kooperation, Amadeus, CHAMÄLEON, DER Touristik, FTI Group, Gebeco, Hotelplan Group, Lufthansa City Center, midoco, OLIMAR Reisen, QTA, Studiosus, TourCert and TFC Airlebnis. The climate protection organizations atmosfair and myclimate are also founding members of KlimaLink and support the initiative with their professional expertise.

The goal: more climate-friendly travel offers

Dirk Inger, Managing Director of the DRV: "The reliable standard for the CO2 travel footprint enables travellers to recognize the climate impact of their trip and take this into account when making their travel decisions. Tour operators can make their product portfolio more climate-friendly in a targeted manner. Travel sales can advise customers accordingly and put together a vacation that is as climate-friendly as possible. In this way, we are creating the conditions at all levels for more climate-friendly, sustainable trips to be offered and booked. The aim is to continue to make travel possible and to make it even more climate-friendly step by step."

Lucienne Damm, CEO of Futouris: "Our industry project "Climate-conscious travel" aims to initiate a process of change in the travel industry and we are delighted that this has met with such great approval throughout the industry and that 22 companies and associations have now been able to jointly launch "KlimaLink". We are convinced that this will take us a huge step forward on the road to more climate-friendly travel offers and booking behavior. Thanks to all founding members for their overwhelming commitment! We would like to cordially invite all other players in the industry to join KlimaLink."

Board elected in Bremerhaven

Swantje Lehners (Futouris) was elected Chairwoman of the KlimaLink Board at the inaugural meeting in Bremerhaven. Ralf Hieke (DRV) will take on the position of Deputy Chairperson and Pascal Zahn (Olimar) will become Chief Financial Officer. Laura Steden (DER Touristik) and Andreas Ochse (AER Kooperation) are also joining the board. The board will manage the association's fortunes together with a management team yet to be appointed.

The calculation basis developed in the Futouris project is being further developed and updated by KlimaLink. At the same time, preparations are already underway for the digital provision of emissions data: Tenders for the awarding of contracts to IT service providers and emissions data suppliers will be published soon. the KlimaLink platform will be available to the entire industry in 2024.