The Conscious Travel Foundation launches a collaborative Climate Fund for members — in partnership with Pinwheel

The Conscious Travel Foundation launches a collaborative Climate Fund for members — in partnership with Pinwheel 

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21 May 2024 | ​The Conscious Travel Foundation, in partnership with Pinwheel, is launching a new collaborative Climate Fund. The fund will enable members to contribute to best-in-class climate and ecological projects as part of an overarching climate action programme. 

The travel industry is responsible for roughly 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions — 3% of which stem from aviation. The Conscious Travel Foundation and its members recognise the significant environmental impact of our industry on the planet caused by tourism, and the responsibility that we have to mitigate and repair the damage - with a focus on making travel’s impact both positive and enduring. 

Gavin Sheppard, founder and CEO of Pinwheel, said: “The Conscious Travel Foundation has shown inspiring commitment to making travel more sustainable. We’re thrilled to be working alongside them to take climate action to the next level by funding some of the world’s most impactful climate and ecological initiatives.”

When polled, 62% of members told the Foundation that they had struggled to find a solution to mitigating the carbon emissions of their business. In partnering with Pinwheel, the new Climate Fund offers members a flexible and robust way to contribute to best-in-class carbon removal and climate initiatives, alongside the Foundation’s ongoing partnership with ecollective which facilitates carbon education and reduction strategies.

Working with a pilot group of members, including travel designers Joro Experiences, AW Private Travel and Katie Terrington Private Travel, and sales and marketing representatives, Senderos, the Foundation has pre-selected a blended portfolio of projects from around the world, aligned to core principles within the WWF and BCG Corporate Climate Mitigation Blueprint and the SBTi beyond value chain mitigation framework. The portfolio combines high quality carbon credits with investment in biodiversity repair and regeneration, including rainwater harvesting bunds in Kenya, seagrass restoration in Puerto Rico and greenhouse gas destruction in Costa Rica.

Members of The Conscious Travel Foundation have access to Pinwheel at specially negotiated rates and can link their project contributions to carbon emissions, revenues or a fixed sum. 90% of funding goes directly to projects with the remaining 10% split between Pinwheel and The Conscious Travel Foundation to administer the scheme and provide ongoing impact monitoring and reporting.

Simon Heyes, director at Senderos and founding member of The Conscious Travel Foundation said: “We all need to play our part and even the small players can show the way with limited budgets. So we’re getting carbon literate, carefully measuring and planning to change what we can - recognising and evaluating what we can’t - and then investing in best in class carbon capture and biodiversity projects. Together we believe this really adds up. The climate crisis can feel overwhelming and we mustn’t rest on our laurels — together in community we can move forward and ‘fall in love with the solutions’.”

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

About The Conscious Travel Foundation

The Conscious Travel Foundation is a non-profit membership organisation that collaborates, educates and advocates for a positive relationship between tourism, people and planet. Providing content and contacts that empower members to make changes in their businesses and destinations, their education programme tackles topics that range from sustainability certifications, sustainability technology, supply chain management and accessible, inclusive travel - all designed to inspire, educate and turn intent into action. Philanthropy is a key tenet of The Conscious Travel Foundation, with 50% of membership fees donated directly to carefully chosen projects with links to tourism around the world. Projects are identified by our members, and chosen grantees are selected through a rigorous framework to be awarded a 3-year grant to support their project and invited into our network as members of The Conscious Travel Foundation. 

About Pinwheel 

Pinwheel enables businesses to fund best-in-class climate and ecological projects around the world and to engage their customers, clients and employees in the process. Working with diverse projects, from enhanced rock weathering carbon removal and greenhouse gas destruction to keystone species protection and habitat restoration aligned to internationally recognised frameworks and standards. 

Media Contacts:

Pinwheel – Gavin Sheppard at gavin.sheppard@pinwheel.co.uk 

The Conscious Travel Foundation – Olivia Cryer at hello@theconscioustravelfoundation.com 

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Editors notes

The Conscious Travel Foundation is a non-profit membership organisation that collaborates, educates and advocates for a greener, more sustainable future.