Our Climate Action Plan

We've appointed a sustainability partner - Positive Planet to measure our current carbon footprint in accordance with the global protocol (GHG Protocol). This audit of emissions includes all measurable Scope 1 & 2 emissions as well as Scope 3 emissions associated with our operations - from the energy we use to the journeys we make as an organisation.

Our initial measurements have used 2019 as a baseline, and we acknowledge that measurement periods that include 2020-2022 will be impacted by COVID-19. As such, these will be seen as temporarily reduced emissions due to external circumstances and will not form part of our reduction plan or calculations.

Our baseline measurements can be found here.

We are committed to reducing our emissions with the aim of halving our emissions by 2030. From the initial audit, it’s clear which areas need the greatest attention:

• Travel contributes the most to our overall emissions

Travel includes business travel, commuting, hotels etc. (Inc. employee flights)

• Procurement is our second highest contributor

Procurement includes both goods & services, and capital goods

• Property is also a significant contributor

Includes energy consumption and waste

We have identified several initiatives and the potential impact they may have on our emissions. More details and the initiatives identified, can be found in our carbon reduction plan, here.

In addition to reducing our own emissions we are also working to reduce the impact of the teams that join us on expedition. A big first step in brining emissions down was the announcement to remove avoidable aviation - including internal, domestic flights here in the UK.

As well as our direct carbon reduction activities, we will be taking responsibility for our unavoidable emissions by removing carbon elsewhere through a holistic approach of reforestation, rewilding, and regeneration.

Transparency and integrity must come above all else for us at Outlook, which is why we won’t be formally offsetting our emissions to claim carbon neutrality or positivity – it just doesn’t sit well with us. Instead, we are committed to funding and supporting sustainable environmental initiatives that provide co-benefits for communities and the destinations they live in.

We look forward to sharing more details soon about our carbon removal approach, in the meantime, find out more about carbon offsetting, as we ask the question: is it a guilt-free game changer, or a dangerous distraction?

We will never claim to be perfect or have all the answers, but we will be open and transparent with our results and ensure we report annually on our progress and targets.

As well as annual reports, we’ll share regular journal updates on our progress as we announce new partnerships, initiatives, and policies.

One of Outlook’s core values is that we find new ways to create a positive impact. In addition to the initiatives set out to reduce our carbon emissions we are also considering other ways we can support positive change, both within our organisation and for our teams. From establishing a new culture within Outlook, providing internal training opportunities, and seeking out greener ways of working for our remote team; to providing an educational framework for our students, empowering them to understand their personal impact and the ways they can reduce it. We're all on this learning journey together and we're committed to supporting everyone as we work collectively towards a greener, more sustainable future.

What's more, as members of Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency and launch partners of the Glasgow Declaration, we're committed to working in a collaborative and constructive spirit with others in the wider industry on their own decarbonisation journeys.