FAQ - Climate Friendly Travel

Why should I register my company?

There are six compelling reasons to do so:

The CFT Registry is the only direct link from the tourism sector to the U.N. Climate Action Platform and the Paris Climate Agreement
The CFT Registry also connects to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), to help reduce environmental impacts.
Reducing carbon emissions will typically reduce operational costs.
Travellers are increasingly going green and clean when planning trips. Join the CFT Registry to attract discerning customers.
Words are not enough. We need committed action now. By joining the CFT Registry and providing your climate action plan, you can monitor progress.
Governments from the EU and US to China are legislating for Climate Neutrality. Join the CFT Registry and stay ahead of the curve.

Can individuals join the Registry?

We are focusing on hospitality companies, large and small, anywhere in the world. Individuals in the hospitality sector, like writers or consultants, can join if they want to register their personal objectives. We are not looking for people outside the hospitality sector

What do I have to do?

To join the Climate Friendly travel community is easy. You fill in Part A of the Registry committing to the principles of Climate Friendly Travel.

When you have joined will ask you to file your climate action plans in Part B, and you have two years to complete this. If you need help with this, our technical team can help you.

I've not filled in this kind of information before. How do I do it?

Don’t worry, we have an experienced team to assist you, led by our Registrar Dr Hans Friederich. You can also see examples of other plans on the Registry website. We are continuously building the database, so more examples will appear as we develop.

I do not have a climate Action Plan. How can you help?

We have an experienced team to assist you, with experts in Australia and Canada. They will be able to provide you with a draft plan, and with guidance on how to improve your actions to reach Zero GHG by 2050. They will also be able to provide some advice on your risk from the impact of climate change. We call this a Plan B.

Why is there no fee?

We have an agreement with the Government of Malta that covers our costs

We are a small company. What difference can we make in combatting global warming?

Every journey starts with a first step. We are the only travel and tourism registry directly linked to the UNFCCC’s database. Your input contributes to the global efforts to keep global warming to within 1.5 degrees. Every Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) consists of the sum of individual contributions like yours.

Can I offset my carbon? What is the best offset system?

Not all carbon reduction measures can be implemented now. In the interim we support offsetting of carbon emissions. However, this should only be an interim solution. As we move towards 2050, we need real carbon reduction measures. On our support and information Hubs are papers that explain more about carbon offsets, and on our Advisory Services Hub we have listed several partner organisations that can provide offsets for you.

I am in the hospitality sector, how can I reduce my carbon emissions?

There are many things you can do. Examples are shown on our support and information hubs. We also suggest that you check: https://sustainablehospitalityalliance.org/resources/resources-guide-climate-action/

Do you have a methodology to help us measure our carbon emissions?

I am afraid we do not, as we believe every company is different. But we do suggest you work this out through recognised in-house expertise or external consultancy. You should check the third party experts in our Advisory Services Hub

Do I have to re-register each year?

No, you don’t, but you do have to report on progress by reviewing your plans each year.

We have made some significant progress and would like to announce this. How can we?

We have an innovation hub, where examples of good practice are listed. Any exciting activity can be listed here as well. You can ask for your action to be included in our e-newsletter or on our social media platforms. Finally, our visibility partners – notably Sustainable First, World Tourism Market, and the Good Tourism Blog can promote your innovation publicly.

Will I be able to see what my competitors are posting?

Yes, you can. The general information on the Registry is freely accessible to everyone so you can see what your peers are posting. Likewise, they will be able to see your activities. We believe that transparency is important – not the least for travellers.

Are there penalties if I do not reach my stated objectives?

SUN^x Malta is not an arbitrator. If you are failing to reach your targets instead of penalising you, we will try to help you reach your 2050 goal. We have many years to strengthen your ambitions.

What will I receive when I register?

You will get a Climate Friendly Travel badge and a copy of the Earth Charter developed by Maurice Strong for champions of the Planet.

Can you refuse my application?

We will accept all applications from organisations in the Travel & Tourism industry, unless we are aware it contains false information.

How do you deal with fake claims and false statement?

If we are alerted of such, and are convinced that statements on the Registry are not true, we will take appropriate action, either seeking Registrants to change their statements or in extreme cases deleting them from the Registry. However, we are looking at long-term ambitions to reduce carbon, and reach a zero-carbon situation by 2050, so we hope that such fake claims are never made.

How does the CFT Registry relate to the CFT Club?

The Registry is a directory of all companies that have agreed with the concept of Climate Friendly Travel. The Club will invite them to join the Club, and provide photos, a description and possibly some benefits for travelers. Not all registered companies will want to join the Club, but all are welcome to do so.