For some time we have offset carbon emissions for all Explore staff flights, and we have encouraged customers to follow suit. Now though, we have taken the next step, to carbon offset all our passenger's flights, by including in the tour cost a sum to fund projects that reduce global CO2 emissions - we are the first large travel operator to do so. This has been no small decision as we expect to hand over a cheque for a six figure sum each year and so we have chosen our offsetting partner very carefully, as well as the specific projects our funding will help.

Our View

Ashley Toft, Explore's Managing Director, says:

"We have thought long and hard about the current environmental concerns and are convinced that carbon offsetting all customers' flights is a step in the right direction. We take our responsibilities towards the environment very seriously and that is why we have included carbon offsetting in tour costs from 2008 onwards."

Climate Care

When you are spending a significant amount on offsetting, you need to know you are getting value for money and that your funding really is generating significant environmental benefits. Explore has chosen Climate Care as its designated carbon offset partner after working with them for a number of years offsetting staff flights and offering a voluntary offsetting for customers. Our research has shown Climate Care to have the most robust verification processes for their projects which show demonstrable and significant carbon reductions. They rate very highly in independent reports on good practice and rated top in Clean Air Cool Planet's 'Consumer's Guide to Retail Carbon Offset Providers', Dec 2006

Customers making their own flight arrangements when joining an Explore tour are also encouraged to take responsibility for their CO2 emissions by carbon offsetting through Climate Care. Check your carbon emissions and calculate the offest cost using this handy carbon calculator.

Our Support

Once, carbon offsetting was considered nothing more than planting a tree. Planting trees to ‘capture’ carbon dioxide is worthwhile, but there has to be more to it than that. Our criteria in project selection are that our projects reduce CO2 emissions at source, at significant levels and in areas where the help is most needed. In the west we talk a lot of the large emissions created through the rapid development of new industrial giants like China and India, yet are we actually offering these countries the assistance they need to develop in a sustainable way? We have specifically included projects in these countries in our project portfolio to ensure our offset delivers meaningful environmental change.

We have chosen 4 projects to fund this year which represent significant areas of environmental concern: