Business travel is at a critical juncture. As we continue to reimagine the industry in the wake of the pandemic, we must consider what a resilient future for business travel looks like. The urgent challenge of climate change necessitates that we “own” the issue and develop solutions that will allow us to continue to travel for the long term.

In 2022, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) conducted its first “State of Sustainability” survey, which brought climate change forward as the most material issue for business travel among the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We embraced this mandate and launched the GBTA Foundation, allowing us to pursue critical advocacy, capacity-building, and research objectives around climate change. The GBTA Foundation provides our industry the opportunity to harmonize disparate efforts and serve as thought leaders for the broader future of travel.

To do this, we need to have a better pulse on the uptake of sustainability practices in the global business travel sector: what’s happening, what’s waning, and what’s to come. This report − The State of Climate Action in Business Travel, our second global industry barometer for sustainability − shows that the industry is stepping up to the challenge.

The survey that informs this report was distributed to the business travel community including GBTA members and stakeholders to gather insights from around the world. It was conducted between April 17 and May 5, 2023, resulting in a total of 863 responses from business travel professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East.

1. Introduction
2. Key Takeaways
3. Owning the Challenge: Sustainability Stays Center Stage
4. A New Era of Accountability: Emissions Tracking and Reporting
5. Sustainable Travel Management: Uptake of Best Practices
6. Green Procurement: Using Demand as a Lever for Change
7. Decarbonization: A Closer Look at SAF Investments
8. Remaining Barriers: Joining Forces to Drive Change