Eco-Aviation Channel

WWF calls for green change away from business travel

By Geoffrey Thomas
Eco-Aviation Today, August 10, 2009, p.3

WWF-UK last month launched its "One in Five Challenge" to persuade businesses and governments to reduce their business travel by 20% by 2014. Officially launched on July 20 with five founder members including heavyweight companies such as Capgemini UK, Marks & Spencer and Vodafone UK, the program is highlighting that 25% of businesses in the UK now are measuring their carbon footprint.

According to WWF, as more companies produce annual Corporate Social Responsibility reports and pressure grows from government, there is an expectation that carbon emissions will be reduced. At British Airways' AGM last month, CEO Willie Walsh flagged that there is a "structural shift" in how businesses are assessing their travel to take into consideration their carbon footprint.

Capgemini UK found in 2008 that 29% of its carbon footprint was business travel and has decided to cuts is travel budget by 20% by 2014 and by 35% by 2020. According to WWF UK CEO David Nussbaum, "modern technology means that people can keep connected without the need for so much flying."

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