Intrepid Travel Scraps Carbon Offsets, to instead create climate impact fund

Intrepid Travel, one of the world’s most eco-conscious tour operators, is abandoning carbon offsets and its previously set emissions targets, calling them ineffective. The Australia-based company, known for small group tours, will instead invest A$2 million annually into a climate impact fund focused on practical steps like electric vehicles and renewable energy.

In an open letter, founders Darrell Wade and James Thornton admitted their climate goals under the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) are no longer viable. “The travel industry is not on track to achieve a 1.5°C future,” they said.

The company acknowledged that customer flights remain its largest emissions source and that offsetting efforts were “not credible.” Intrepid will now focus on reducing trip carbon intensity and promoting flight-free travel. Thornton emphasized that transparency builds trust, adding, “Travel is not sustainable in its current format, and anything suggesting otherwise is greenwashing.”

Environmental groups welcomed the shift away from offsets.