Intrepid Group Carbon Neutrality, Science-based Target and Human Rights Strategy
In 2020, Intrepid became the first global tour operator in the world with a verified SBT.
Intrepid is the largest small group adventure travel company in the world. Responsible business is at the heart of what Intrepid does.
Anthesis (formerly Ndevr Environmental) has assisted Intrepid with its GHG accounting and reporting since 2018 and more recently with the development of its net zero strategy, science-based target, and human rights and modern slavery reporting obligations.
Anthesis assisted Intrepid to become carbon neutral certified with the Australian Government’s Climate Active in 2018, making it the largest global provider of carbon neutral travel adventures and the first company to voluntarily include all global operations in its certification.
Our work with Intrepid has included a comprehensive review of the boundaries and emission scopes of its global travel operations, customisation of emission factors, aligned with the rigorous Climate Active methodology and international best practice, and streamlining data gathering and calculation tools. Anthesis has been managing this process to ensure Intrepid’s organisational and product carbon neutrality re-certification year-on-year since 2018.
We have also worked with Intrepid on their science-based emission reduction target and implementation. Phase 1 of the project involved a feasibility study for developing the SBT and to assess the potential carbon liability for the business. In Phase 2, we developed Intrepid’s SBT, supported with submission to SBTi and underwent the required validation process in order to achieve SBT approval.
As a global travel business, Intrepid was not covered by a standard sectorial decarbonisation method, and the approach had to be fully customised. Furthermore, Intrepid’s GHG inventory comprised of a significant portion of Scope 3 emissions, which were complex to measure and set targets for. To allow Intrepid to comply with the SBT’s criteria, a Scope 3 physical intensity target was set. Intrepid committed to an absolute reduction of 71.4% of Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035 from a 2018 base year and a 34% reduction of Scope 3 emissions intensity per FTE from its office operations, and 56.3% reduction on Scope 3 emissions intensity per passenger days from its trip operations by 2035 from a 2018 base year.
In 2020, Intrepid became the first global tour operator in the world with a verified SBT. We are proud to work with forward thinking, global leaders such as Intrepid who are making continued and ambitious commitments to decarbonisation.
More information here.