Tourism Industry Gains New Tool to Track and Reduce Carbon Emissions, Get the Details Here

Published on December 19, 2025

The tourism sector, contributing about 8% of global emissions, has also long struggled with issues of environmental sustainability. There has now, however, been a recent development in the launch of the world’s first ISO-validated carbon tracker that is tailored for the tourism and events industry. This development holds a great potential in assisting companies in tracking and lowering carbon emissions, thus providing an effective remedy against the increasing demand within the tourism and travel sectors.

The Challenge of Carbon Accounting in Tourism

Carbon accounting has long been a complicated and costly task for tourism businesses. Many of the sector’s emissions are not directly under the control of businesses, such as those from supply chains or customer travel. This makes it particularly difficult to track and report emissions accurately, especially when it comes to Scope 3 emissions, which cover indirect emissions from sources like transportation, accommodations, and other services linked to tourism activities.

As the demand for transparency and sustainability in tourism grows, businesses face increasing pressure to provide evidence of their environmental impact. The complexity and expense of carbon reporting have led many smaller operators to struggle with accurately measuring their emissions, leaving a gap in credible data across the industry. The Green Business Carbon Tracker aims to solve these issues by providing an accessible, reliable, and standardized way to measure emissions from all major sources of carbon output in the tourism sector.

A Solution Aligned with International Standards

What makes the Green Business Carbon Tracker truly groundbreaking is its alignment with international standards, specifically the ISO 14064-3 standards. The tracker has been independently verified by the certification body Control Union, ensuring its credibility and reliability. This third-party validation is crucial in a time when businesses face growing scrutiny over green claims, as the need for verified and trusted data becomes more critical than ever.

The tracker’s methodology follows the principles outlined in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, which is widely recognized as the international standard for emissions reporting. By utilizing this standardized approach, the tracker enables businesses across the tourism sector—from small operators to large event venues—to report their emissions in a way that is both consistent and transparent. This approach will help businesses not only meet their sustainability goals but also prove to consumers and stakeholders that their environmental claims are backed by solid evidence.

Testing and Launch of the Green Business Carbon Tracker

The Green Business Carbon Tracker has been in development for two years, with initial pilot projects conducted in partnership with tourism operators across the sector. These pilots have allowed the developers to refine the tool and ensure it meets the needs of a wide range of businesses. With successful trials now behind them, the tracker will be made available to Green Tourism members starting in December 2025, and to all tourism and events businesses from January 2026.

This rollout will help businesses at every level of the tourism industry, from small guesthouses to large international event organizers, to track their emissions and take meaningful steps toward reducing their carbon footprint. The tracker is designed to be easy to use, making it accessible to operators of all sizes, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises that may have previously struggled with the complexities of carbon accounting.

The Growing Demand for Sustainability in Travel

The timing of this launch comes as pressure continues to mount on the tourism sector to show tangible progress toward net zero emissions. The global tourism industry is under increased scrutiny, particularly after major climate conferences such as COP30. Travelers are becoming more eco-conscious, and there is a growing demand for businesses to provide transparent data on their sustainability practices.

Governments and regulators are also tightening environmental standards, making it even more crucial for businesses in the tourism and events sectors to be proactive about their carbon footprint. This new carbon tracker gives businesses the tools they need to comply with evolving regulations, while also meeting the expectations of environmentally aware consumers.

Empowering Tourism Operators to Take Action

One of the key goals of the Green Business Carbon Tracker is to make credible carbon reporting accessible to all types of tourism operators, not just the large, well-established companies. For smaller and medium-sized businesses, which often lack the resources to implement complex sustainability practices, this tool offers a practical and affordable solution to start measuring and reducing their environmental impact.

By leveling the playing field, the tracker ensures that all businesses can take part in the global effort to combat climate change. This is essential for building a more sustainable tourism industry, where every operator—no matter their size—has the opportunity to contribute to a greener future.

The Future of Greener Travel

The Green Business Carbon Tracker is a major landmark in the tourism industry on its quest to become more sustainable. The carbon tracking system has made it possible for businesses to measure their carbon emissions, which will help them reduce their carbon footprints. This is very significant in the tourism industry, which has always struggled with the issue of carbon tracking. The industry can finally use the carbon tracking system for its advantage.