We know just how important it is to reduce the carbon impact of our holidays, but with an increasing number of reports casting doubt on the benefits of carbon mitigation, we don't have the necessary clarity and confidence on this approach that we would ideally like.
We recognise it’s a subject that divides opinion, and we certainly don’t purport to be experts, and we therefore do not feel it is appropriate to include the cost of a mitigating project to balance your flight carbon as a default. We do, however, remain committed to reducing our footprint, and we do this in a number of ways.
We provide clients with the right tools to mitigate their flight carbon if they wish to do so.
We are actively reducing our clients’ flight carbon through the recommendation of train travel in place of short-haul flights.
Helping inform clients on the carbon impact of a range of non-flight activities and considerations on their travels - i.e. avoiding buffet breakfasts, encouraging the enjoyment of low mileage street-food and always pushing for increased use of non-vehicle or electric vehicle based tour programmes.
Supporting regenerative woodland projects
To achieve your mitigation objectives, we recommend C-Level. They work directly with environmental scientists and communities in vulnerable habitats to develop functional ways to make conservation profitable for local people. They then channel carbon mitigation payments directly into these projects. It sounds straightforward enough, but a lot of thought, science and economics go into it. We think it's worth every penny.
Our position has always been to ensure that we do whatever we can to make sure your travels are positive in every way — for the communities you visit, the conservation and wildlife projects you choose to support, on your guides, the people that you meet — and, of course, for you. We're not here to scold anyone, but if you are choosing Selective Asia because we're a conscientious operator, you may also be keen to consider further reducing your carbon impact using the tools and ideas that we provide to help enable this. However, to be clear, this isn't a case of paying a fee to sweep the problem under the carpet and give us all carte blanche to stampede through Asia.
To be certain that your action is making a verifiable difference and to protect your investment over the long-term we’ve chosen to partner with C Level and support the Khasi Hills project in Meghalaya India. Tangible impact is across the tri values that define Carbon Balanced certification: action on carbon (verified and to the highest standard under Plan Vivo), action on forests (both protection and restoration of forests and ecosystems), with communities (all C Level projects deliver full agency to indigenous local communities and support sustainable livelihoods). This ensures world-class community development in India, built around carbon removal.