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business travel

Know more about how recent policy developments impact business travel

Policies at national, EU and international level increasingly emphasise the urgency of climate action and the responsibility of companies to actively reduce their emissions.

The following developments converge in showing the way for businesses to move away from climate-intensive flying towards more sustainable modes of travel and connectivity.

Netherlands, National

Emissions reduction, Air to Rail

The Netherlands Climate Agreement mandates business travel emissions reduction

July 2024

Dutch Government

The Netherlands has made travel emissions reductions a requirement: starting in July 2024, businesses above 100 employees are required to...

European Union

Emissions reduction

The Multimodal Digital Mobility Services (MDMS) Regulation

Coming soon

Initiative aimed at making travelers’ lives simpler by facilitating the transparent comparison and combination of transport offers, within and across...

European Union

Emissions reduction

European Commission cuts staff flying emissions by 40% compared to 2019

June 2024

European Commission

The legacy of the outgoing European Commission will include a significant reduction in its own emissions from employee air travel,...

European Union

Target setting

EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

May 2024

By the European C...

The European Union (EU) has adopted a new directive to establish a due diligence framework for corporate sustainability. The EU...

National, United States

Reporting

SEC Rules to Enhance and Standardise Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors

March 2024

By the U.S. Secur...

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted the first mandatory national climate disclosure rules. The rules require large...

France, National

Emissions reduction, Air to Rail

French Energy Sobriety Plan, act II

January 2024

By the French gov...

The French Energy Sobriety Plan details the 20 mandatory measures aiming at facilitating the French state’s ecological transition. This means...

European Union

Reporting

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

January 2024

By the European C...

The European Union’s (EU) Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires large companies and listed companies to disclose information on social...

United States

Air to Rail

The White House publish its new travel policy for federal employees

December 2023

The US Federal Go...

The US federal government has released on the 14th of December 2023 a new set of requirements to reduce the...

National, United States

Reporting

California Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act

October 2023

California Legisl...

For the first time, the California State Legislature requires corporations and financial institutions to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, through...

National, United Kingdom

Target setting, Reporting

UK Transition Plan Taskforce Disclosure Framework

October 2023

The Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT) was launched by the UK’s Treasury in April 2022 to develop a “gold standard” for...

European Union

Reporting

Count your transport emissions – ‘CountEmissions EU’

July 2023

European Commission

The new CountEmissions EU is a reporting regulation that sets a single European framework for calculating GHG emissions data of...

National, Switzerland

Emissions reduction, Target setting

Swiss Climate Law for Net Zero by 2050

June 2023

Climate Change La...

Switzerland is leading the way in combating climate change with the passage of a transformative Act that enshrines the nation’s...

National, France

Emissions reduction

France bans short-haul domestic flights in favour of train travel

May 2023

By Forbes

Starting from April 2022, France has outlawed many short-haul flights, which are less than 2.5 hours long, in an effort...

National, Netherlands

Emissions reduction

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport Says Private Jets ‘No Longer Welcome’

April 2023

By Forbes

The airport has recently announced new restrictions on general aviation flights, citing concerns over the environmental impact of private jets....

National, Netherlands

Emissions reduction

Dutch Cabinet Introduces CO2 Emission Caps for Flights Starting 2025

March 2023

Euractiv

The Dutch cabinet has announced that from 2025, flights in the Netherlands will have their CO2 emissions capped. The move...

Policy momentum

June 2021

March 2022

April 2022

June 2022

September 2022

October 2022

November 2022

March 2023

April 2023

May 2023

June 2023

July 2023

October 2023

November 2023

January 2024

March 2024

May 2024

July 2024

Coming soon...

IEA Net Zero Emissions by 2050

IEA's Net Zero Emissions by 2050 aims at enhancing the sustaianbility of the energy sector, inlcuding transport demand. This roadmap explains the key role by behaviour change to achive the emissions reduction in aviation

How can investors ensure a 1.5°C future for the aviation sector?

CA100+ investor group highlights that corporates have a role to play in reducing their business travel, as demand for air travel will have to be constrained in order to limit global temperature rise to safe levels

10-point plan to reduce oil use

IEA recommends reducing business flights as part of its 10-point plan to reduce oil use

Greening the Commission

EU Commission sets target to reduce its staff business travel emissions by 50% by 2024, as compared to 2019

Sustainability-related disclosure in the financial services sector

EU sets new disclosure standards for financial actors, with mandatory disclosure of Scope 3 emissions

Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of climate change

IPCC concludes that the greatest potential for avoiding emissions comes from reducing long-haul aviation, and highlights that integrating virtual technologies into business models can avoid long-haul flying for meetings.

UK government launches new taskforce to develop best practice for UK climate transition plans

UK Transition Plan Taskforce starts work on new “gold standard” for for best practice private sector transition plans, including Scope 3 emissions reduction targets and disclosure of business travel policies

Dutch government issues world-first cap on flights from European hub

NL Schiphol airport announces a permanent 12% cut in annual flights compared to 2019, to comply with legislation on noise and air pollution

Net-Zero Public Data Utility

Launch of development of global tool to make available company climate transition-related data, including on specific actions to reach net-zero targets, and emissions

Voluntary Carbon Markets and Offsetting

UK Climate Change Committee recommends that businesses prioritise replacing all air travel with alternatives where available, before purchasing offsets

Emissions Gap Report 2022

Published by UNEP, the report highlights the urgent need for action to reduce emissions. Governments, the private sector, and civil society, must set and achieve ambitious targets, investing in clean energy and sustainable transport, and working together to tackle the global challenge of climate change.

Sobriety plan: how companies can help save energy

France recommends to businesses to save energy by using rail rather than air travel for trips under 4 hours, and using videoconferencing to avoid unnecessary travel

Integrity Matters: Net Zero Commitments by Businesses, Financial Institutions, Cities and Regions

UN expert group recommends businesses reduce absolute emissions as fast as possible, aligning or exceeding national targets, setting first targets for 2025, including for Scope 3 emissions

Strengthening the sustainability and fairness of the aviation sector

France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal note that air transport is sometimes used irresponsibly when the journey could be made using a zero carbon alternative mode or replaced by a video conference

Dutch Cabinet Introduces CO2 Emission Caps for Flights Starting 2025

Flights will have their CO2 emissions capped from 2025 depending on the Dutch airport

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport Says Private Jets ‘No Longer Welcome’

NL Schiphol airport announces a ban on private jets (blocked by court ruling)

France bans short-haul domestic flights in favour of train travel

France bans short-haul flights under 2,5 hours

Swiss Climate Law for Net Zero by 2050

Switzerland votes yes to climate law for net zero by 2050, including aviation and requiring company alignment

Count your transport emissions – ‘CountEmissions EU’

Initiative to set out a common framework to calculate and report transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by both the passenger and freight sector.

California Corporate Climate Accountability Act

US California legislation for corporate reporting by large companies doing business in the state, including travel emissions

The White House publish its new travel policy for federal employees

The federal employees will use rail for trips less than 250 miles (around 400km) when cost-effective and available, instead of taking an airplane or vehicle.

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

EU adopts new rules for corporate reporting by 50,000 large businesses, including travel emissions

French Energy Sobriety Plan, act II

The French Energy Sobriety Plan details the 20 mandatory measures aiming at facilitating the French state’s ecological transition. This means that these measures’ ultimate objective is to reduce demand to accelerate the decarbonise of the State’s energy and economy.

SEC Rules to Enhance and Standardise Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted the first mandatory national climate disclosure rules. The rules require large public companies operating in the U.S. to provide information in their annual reports on corporate greenhouse gas emissions, environmental impacts, the impact of climate change on operations and profitability, and targets and transition plans.

Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

The EU has adopted new due diligence rules for large companies, to include the adoption of a climate transition plan containing emissions reduction objectives

The Netherlands Climate Agreement mandates business travel emission reduction

The Netherlands has made travel emissions reductions a requirement: starting in July 2024, businesses above 100 employees are required to report annually to the government on progress towards the mandated 50% decrease in domestic mobility emissions by 2030, from 2016 levels.

Multimodal Digital Services Mobility

Initiative aimed at facilitating for travelers the comparison and combination of transport offers, within and across modes

Latest on business travel

IEA Net Zero Emissions by 2050

How can investors ensure a 1.5°C future for the aviation sector?

10-point plan to reduce oil use

Greening the Commission

Sustainability-related disclosure in the financial services sector

Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of climate change

UK government launches new taskforce to develop best practice for UK climate transition plans

Dutch government issues world-first cap on flights from European hub

Net-Zero Public Data Utility

Voluntary Carbon Markets and Offsetting

Emissions Gap Report 2022

Sobriety plan: how companies can help save energy

Integrity Matters: Net Zero Commitments by Businesses, Financial Institutions, Cities and Regions

Strengthening the sustainability and fairness of the aviation sector

Dutch Cabinet Introduces CO2 Emission Caps for Flights Starting 2025

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport Says Private Jets ‘No Longer Welcome’

France bans short-haul domestic flights in favour of train travel

Swiss Climate Law for Net Zero by 2050

Count your transport emissions – ‘CountEmissions EU’

California Corporate Climate Accountability Act

The White House publish its new travel policy for federal employees

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

French Energy Sobriety Plan, act II

SEC Rules to Enhance and Standardise Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors

Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

The Netherlands Climate Agreement mandates business travel emission reduction

Multimodal Digital Services Mobility

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business travel