PATA has confirmed that all its activities in 2024 were carbon neutral, with emissions from events offset through projects in Cambodia, supported by Sustainable Travel International, and emissions from other operations, such as training, staff travel, and office activities, offset in Thailand through the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation.
Since 2022, PATA has been offsetting the carbon footprint of in-person events while applying emission reduction strategies in line with its Climate Action Plan and Carbon Neutral Events Guidelines. However, certain emissions, such as those from transportation, electricity use, and waste, remain unavoidable. To address this, PATA continues to support credible carbon offset projects while implementing strategies to minimise emissions, such as exploring sustainable event design, optimising digital solutions, and collaborating with venues and suppliers prioritising sustainability.
PATA offset emissions from the PATA Annual Summit 2024 (PAS 2024) in Macau and the PATA Travel Mart 2024 (PTM 2024) in Bangkok through the Keo Seima Project, which protects Cambodia’s Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. This project reduces emissions by preventing deforestation and supports biodiversity, while safeguarding the rights of the indigenous Bunong people and combating illegal activities like logging and poaching.
The project also addresses the socio-economic drivers of deforestation, creating income opportunities through climate-smart farming, ecotourism, and skills training, while improving access to clean water, healthcare, and education.
Through the Keo Seima Project, PATA offset 354.75 MTCO2e from PAS 2024 and 490.9 MTCO2e from PTM 2024.
Additionally, the Southern Cardamom Project in Cambodia offset emissions from the PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2024 (PDMF 2024) held in Thailand. This project protects one of South-east Asia’s last primary rainforests and provides alternative income through ecotourism, conservation employment, and sustainable agriculture. It also supports community-led forest protection, with over 130 rangers patrolling the area. PATA offset 120.91 MTCO2e from PDMF 2024 through this project.
A third initiative, the PSTC Solar Farm 10 MW Project in Thailand, offset emissions from PATA’s general operations. This renewable energy project, registered with the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation, provides clean power, reduces fossil fuel reliance, and contributes to environmental sustainability in Thailand. PATA offset 95 MTCO2e from its operations and activities, including its capacity-building programmes in Kuching and Macau.
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid stated: “Sustainability is no longer an option; it is a responsibility. In 2024, for the first time, we achieved full carbon neutrality, offsetting emissions from all our events, operations, and capacity-building programmes.
“As the tourism industry works towards a more responsible future, we remain committed to reducing our footprint while supporting projects that protect biodiversity, empower local communities, and safeguard the future of travel, while also encouraging our members and partners to do the same. In 2025, we will take further steps to refine our sustainability strategies, enhance our Climate Action Plan, and explore third-party verification of our emissions to ensure transparency and accountability.”
