Driving sustainable outcomes: EarthCheck partners with South Pole Group to mitigate 2 million tonnes of CO2 across its membership network

Among the billions of people travelling internationally each year, a number expected to rise to 1.8 billion by 2030, there are individuals and organisations dedicated to driving the message of sustainable tourism through their daily work. One of these trailblazers is EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for the travel industry.
Among the billions of people travelling internationally each year, a number expected to rise to 1.8 billion by 2030, there are individuals and organisations dedicated to driving the message of sustainable tourism through their daily work. One of these trailblazers is EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for the travel industry.

Among the billions of people travelling internationally each year, a number expected to rise to 1.8 billion by 2030, there are individuals and organisations dedicated to driving the message of sustainable tourism through their daily work. One of these trailblazers is EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for the travel industry.   

EarthCheck currently helps its clients to measure, track and monitor over two million tonnes of CO2 on an annual basis. Thanks to its newly announced partnership with leading sustainability solutions provider South Pole Group, EarthCheck members will have access to the Group’s tailored emission-reduction services as well as 500+ carbon reduction and community projects that have, to date, avoided 80+ million tonnes of CO2.

In line with its mission to deliver sustainable outcomes, EarthCheck has together with South Pole Group identified climate mitigation and adaptation projects that work towards the UN Sustainable Development goals by creating tangible benefits to local communities in the areas of health and education. The carbon credits from these projects have been certified under the Gold Standard and the Verified Carbon Standards (VCS), which follow rigorous certification criteria to substantiate positive environmental and climate impacts, and to ensure every dollar of climate and development funding goes as far as it can.

The newly formed partnership will be ensuring safe water for 1.5 million people in Uganda, delivering 165,000 clean cookstoves to communities in China, and protecting 45,000 hectare of biodiverse forests in Guatemala.

The collaboration between the two organisations also complements the aspirations of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development (IY2017), launched by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in January: the IY2017 aims to promote the role of tourism in sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, environmental protection, conservation, and climate change.

“You cannot claim sustainability leadership without addressing your climate footprint,” says André Russ, Vice President of Sales, EarthCheck. “The IY2017 is a unique opportunity for the tourism industry to take action and drive its message of global impact across the global community – beyond tourism. We are doing our part by continuing to provide our members with latest industry insights and by making sure finance is channeled to climate-smart projects with a proven impact.”

“With the UN system focusing on tourism until year-end, leaders in the industry now have the chance to step up climate action to make every day count,” emphasises Chris Perceval, Director Technology & Transport, South Pole Group. “By mitigating the climate footprint associated with their operations and by investing in projects that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, leading organisations can help protect their commerce, communities and the climate.”

Going forward, the EarthCheck and South Pole Group will continue to work together to support leading organisations of all sizes in the travel & tourism industry take a concentrated course of sustainability action to position themselves in a 2-degree economy and help avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

SHARE THIS STORY:

Keep up to date with news from EarthCheck:

EarthCheck Logo

Acknowledgement
of Country

There are more than 476 million Indigenous Peoples, found in all regions of the world, from the Arctic to the tropical forests. They make up more than 6 per cent of our global population.

 

In the spirit of reconciliation, EarthCheck acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout the world and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous Peoples today.

 

EarthCheck acknowledges that Indigenous Peoples are guardians of the forests and biodiversity hotspots we all depend on. Research shows that lands managed by Indigenous Peoples, with secure rights, experience lower deforestation rates, store more carbon, hold more biodiversity, and benefit more people than other lands — including protected areas.

 

We recognise and support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration is a positive document that maps out a path for Indigenous Peoples to be free from discrimination and secure in their identities and life choices.

EarthCheck Logo

EarthCheck Certified: Aligned globally

EarthCheck science and products were developed by the Australian Government Sustainable Tourism Co-operative Research Centre (STCRC) over ten years. Our science is reviewed annually to ensure that it meets international standards relative to greenhouse gas protocols, responsible tourism, and certification.

EarthCheck products and services are built on the Agenda 21 principles for Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 Heads of State at the United Nations Rio De Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992 and aligned to the SDGs.

EarthCheck Certified provides a framework for organisations to achieve the desired outcomes for sustainable development as set out in the final report of the World Summit for Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002.

EarthCheck Certified complies with the Mohonk Agreement (2000), which outlines the guidelines and principles for an international sustainable tourism certification program. It is also a Recognised program of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

EarthCheck Certified is a verification standard accepted by CDP. It is also an approved program of the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNCA), London & Partners, the Mexican Secretary of Tourism (SECTUR) and the City of Sydney.

EarthCheck Certified is an approved program for meeting the EU Energy Directive for the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle – BAFA) in Germany and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy) in the Netherlands.

EarthCheck partners with international research organisations to maintain the currency of EarthCheck science and our benchmarking systems.

The EarthCheck brand signifies scientific excellence, better environmental, economic, and social performance, improved community interactions, and savings through more efficient use of resources. It provides recognition and promotional support to a global consumer market.