3,430 tons in 2019, 3,260 in 2022, 2,160 in 2030. To combat “climate chaos,” Secret Planet, a Lyon-based tour operator specializing in trekking and polar expeditions, has committed to gradually reducing its annual greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose: By 2030, achieve the 37% reduction in CO² emissions recommended by the 2015 Paris Agreement. To do this, the tour operator must reduce its emissions by 5% each year.
Convinced of the need to act quickly, but also to emulate a strong gesture, Secret Planet founder Eric Bonnam assures her: the tour operator’s website is genuine. Even if it means dealing with a significant drop in his turnover… This frequent traveler explains his motivations for doing so. Figaro.
LE FIGARO – Commit to drastically reducing your CO² emissions every year or you’ll be closing up shop until the next one. we can talk about the fist. What made you make this decision?
Eric Bonnam. – We have been developing this approach for about five years. Since 2018, we have systematically displayed the carbon footprint of our journeys to inform customers about the impact of their journeys. But it was no longer enough, and for people like us who love nature, participating in climate chaos became unbearable. During the pandemic, our annual emissions dropped to 600 tons. But since the takeover, they’ve picked up again, and if we continue at this rate, we’d be releasing twice as much in five years. So, what to do, persist in this perspective of unbridled and destructive growth? We decided not to wait for others to do something for us, making a strong decision now in the hope that it would have an impact 20 or 30 years from now. Granted, we are a small player, but I believe in the butterfly effect.
What specific action will you take to reduce the carbon footprint of your travels?
The main challenge is to reduce the impact of international and domestic air transport, which accounts for 85-90% of the journey. I do not believe in tomorrow’s technological progress that will fundamentally change the situation. Today, most of our flights are non-stop because it costs less. Now we favor direct flights. The second lever is length of stay. Secret Planet already offers long journeys. they will be longer. You spent twenty days on site, now you will spend 25. We also need to review our accommodation offering with more eco-lodges or immersion with local families.
If you offer direct flights and longer stays, your trips will definitely be more expensive. Do you suppose that?
We are already on a rather expensive medium basket, starting at €5,000. For expeditions to Antarctica or Everest, the slate can go up to €50 or €60,000. So yes, overall, we run the risk of adding to the bill. But we will make sure that the program is financially accessible according to the destination.
And compensation, isn’t that the tool you’re thinking of?
Compensation is a temptation to ease your conscience. Planting trees does not remove CO² emitted into the atmosphere. The only way to emit less is to emit less accurately.
If, despite all these measures, you do not reach the set goal, you are obliged to stop your activity during the year. How are you going to keep Secret Planet afloat?
We will be able to carry some reservations made to next year. This can also be a way to reinvent ourselves, why not give advice, help prepare campaigns… One thing is certain, there are twelve of us, and we either want to keep the team situation or develop it. Of course it won’t cut it.
In the context of the climate emergency, the question arises of the need to continue traveling, most of them to the other side of the world… What is your position?
Obviously, calling it quits was one option on the table. But we have a social responsibility, in addition to our ten employees, we work with local guides and organizers. In general, tourism is important to an entire part of the planet. I think about Nepal, which I know well, where many families depend on. Travel outside of this economic role is necessary because it humbles you, gives you ideas, encourages tolerance. Leaving one or taking one home is identical to a person. So you don’t have to throw everything away, you have to do it differently. After all, it’s a bit like an expedition, we don’t really know how we’re going to get there, but we know where we want to get to the top. In the meantime, we adapt.
Source: Le Figaro
