In a landscape where 66% of travelers acknowledge that climate change is an emergency, the travel industry is facing more pressure than ever to reduce its environmental impact. According to a recent survey by Deloitte, roughly one in seven American companies (and one in five companies in E.M.E.A.) plan to reduce their planned corporate travel as a part of their strategy to meet sustainability goals, while a whopping 40% plan to optimize their corporate travel for sustainability as a part of the same strategy.
Carey International has worked with many sustainability-oriented clients for years to provide statistics on the environmental impact (and especially carbon emissions) associated with the travel services we provide to our clients. During that time, the feedback from a wide swathe of Carey clients has been consistent – that there is a growing need for sustainable travel options, improved reporting, and a unified travel industry that holds itself to higher standards than industry regulations would require.
During this same time, and to their credit, vehicle manufacturers have also made headway in designing vehicles that release fewer carbon emissions and have even provided organizations like Carey with consultative services to see how those vehicles can be made suitable for the unique needs of luxury ground transportation service providers. It is only very recently that vehicle models have been released that suit the unique needs of the luxury ground transportation segment. Even then, with those vehicles having only limited availability (largely due to supply chain issues), unique maintenance requirements, unknown long-term maintenance costs, and an inconsistent infrastructure of vehicle charging stations, many questions were still left unanswered when it came to the viability of a large-scale hybrid and electric vehicle program.
Over the past several years, Carey has been proactively testing electric and hybrid vehicles in several major cities, including Dallas, Houston, Ciudad de Nueva York, and London, to attest to that viability. As we have tested the benefits and weaknesses of specific geographies when it comes to the feasibility of maintaining a fleet of hybrid or electric vehicles, Carey has been able to slowly transition some of our local fleets to utilize more sustainable vehicles. Such a transition allowed Carey to reduce the carbon emissions of our U.K. fleet by 65% last year, por ejemplo.
It is with successes such as this one in mind that Carey proudly announces its recent commitment to the Science-Based Targets initiative in solidarity with hundreds of current clients, and as a part of the organization’s larger sustainability goals. The Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) is a global organization that helps companies set emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science to limit global warming to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. It provides a framework for businesses to achieve their sustainability goals by developing and validating science-based emissions reduction targets.
By signing the SBTi commitment letter, Carey International pledges to set near-term company-wide emission reductions. As a part of their larger efforts, Carey International is also committing to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 50% by 2030. We intend to provide more sustainable travel options to the 90% of consumers who are looking for more environmentally friendly travel alternatives while taking a hard look at how our operations can be improved to ensure the planet is a better place for future generations.
“We are dedicated to aligning our business practices with the highest level of environmental responsibility,” said Frank Donnelly, Carey’s VP of Financial Planning and Analysis, who is heading the effort, along with several other Carey contributors. “Our commitment to SBTi underscores our pledge to take meaningful action against climate change and achieve net-zero emissions.”
While 95% of the Carey fleet in the United Kingdom has already transitioned to utilizing electric or hybrid vehicles, new models available domestically will allow Carey to make major headway in transitioning its domestic fleet, including cutting-edge models like the Cadillac Lyriq and BMW 530e, entre otras. Speaking to this new shift, President and CEO of Carey International Mitchell Lahr said, “We’ve long considered ourselves a leader in the chauffeured transportation industry for the services that we provide, and we would be disappointed in ourselves if we didn’t make steps towards leading our industry in sustainability initiatives, as well.” He later added, “By integrating innovative technology and adopting best practices, we aim to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and inspire others in the industry to follow suit.”
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