Transportation accounts for 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Forty percent of online travelers changed their plans in 2023 due to sustainability concerns. The statistics below cover emissions sources, consumer shifts, and efficiency measures across travel.
Key Takeaways
- 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation (including air, road, rail, and shipping).
- 2.5% of global CO2 emissions in 2019 came from aviation operations (fuel combustion).
- 9% of global CO2 emissions were attributed to the transportation sector in 2016 (the report’s cited share for transport).
- 61% of surveyed consumers say they consider a business’s environmental sustainability when deciding where to travel.
- 40% of global online travelers changed travel plans due to sustainability concerns in 2023 (consumer panel result).
- 56% of travelers expect hotels to provide more sustainability information (survey finding).
- EU ETS covers flights departing from the EEA and UK airports, and it requires surrender of allowances for emissions from 2012 onward (policy requirement).
- EU Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 applies due diligence requirements to certain commodities, impacting sustainable sourcing for hospitality supply chains (policy measure).
- EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139) establishes technical screening criteria for climate mitigation and adaptation activities (standards for eligibility).
- 45% average reduction potential in hotel energy use from switching to efficient HVAC and lighting, based on energy efficiency studies compiled by the IEA for buildings.
- 15–25% reduction in water use from installing low-flow fixtures and flow restrictors in buildings (range from U.S. EPA water efficiency resources).
- 1.2–2.0% fuel burn reduction per year from improved aircraft engine and aerodynamic technology in aviation technology outlooks (CAGR-like annual improvement figure used in forecasts).
- € 1.7 trillion additional annual investment needed by 2030 in energy systems to meet climate targets (context for travel energy transition).
- Hotel energy efficiency retrofits can pay back in 2–5 years based on energy audit and retrofit cost analyses compiled in the IEA’s buildings efficiency guidance.
- The International Energy Agency estimates that energy efficiency improvements provide the largest share of emissions reductions in the buildings sector (quantified in sector outlook).
Most travelers now expect clearer hotel sustainability and stricter rules, as transport fuels about a fifth of emissions.
Related reading
- Sustainability In IndustrySustainability In The Tourism Industry Statistics
- Sustainability In IndustrySustainability In The Life Sciences Industry Statistics
- Sustainability In IndustrySustainable Fashion Industry Statistics
- Sustainability In IndustrySustainability In The Foodservice Industry Statistics
01 · Category
Emissions & Offsets3 stats
01
20% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation (including air, road, rail, and shipping).
02
2.5% of global CO2 emissions in 2019 came from aviation operations (fuel combustion).
03
9% of global CO2 emissions were attributed to the transportation sector in 2016 (the report’s cited share for transport).
Interpretation
Emissions & Offsets Interpretation
In the emissions and offsets framing, transportation is responsible for a large share of global warming pollution with about 20% of greenhouse gas emissions coming from transport overall, and aviation alone adds roughly 2.5% of global CO2 in 2019, underscoring why offset efforts are most meaningful when they target the biggest emitting parts of travel.
02 · Category
Consumer Demand4 stats
01
61% of surveyed consumers say they consider a business’s environmental sustainability when deciding where to travel.
02
40% of global online travelers changed travel plans due to sustainability concerns in 2023 (consumer panel result).
03
56% of travelers expect hotels to provide more sustainability information (survey finding).
04
54% of travelers say sustainability is a major factor in travel accommodations selection (survey finding).
Interpretation
Consumer Demand Interpretation
Consumer demand is clearly shifting toward sustainability as 61% of travelers say they consider a business’s environmental practices when choosing where to go and over half, at 54% to 56%, expect travel accommodations and hotels to offer more sustainability information and prioritize it in selection.
03 · Category
Policy & Regulation9 stats
01
EU ETS covers flights departing from the EEA and UK airports, and it requires surrender of allowances for emissions from 2012 onward (policy requirement).
02
EU Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 applies due diligence requirements to certain commodities, impacting sustainable sourcing for hospitality supply chains (policy measure).
03
EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139) establishes technical screening criteria for climate mitigation and adaptation activities (standards for eligibility).
04
Reporting threshold for the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) includes large companies and listed SMEs, increasing the number of companies subject to sustainability reporting to an estimated ~50,000.
05
The EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires member states to set minimum energy performance requirements for buildings (directive framework).
06
The EU’s FuelEU Maritime proposal aims to reduce GHG intensity from maritime transport by 2% in 2025, 6% in 2030, 14.5% in 2035, and 75% by 2050 compared with a 2020 baseline (targets).
07
IATA forecast of 2024 air travel passengers returning to ~2019 levels (illustrated in the airline industry’s traffic outlook).
08
UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires certain businesses to publish an annual slavery and human trafficking statement describing steps taken (legal requirement).
09
California SB 253 (Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act) requires certain large companies to disclose annual Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and certain related data starting from 2026 (effective reporting schedule).
Interpretation
Policy & Regulation Interpretation
Policy and regulation in travel are tightening fast, with EU ETS already covering emissions from 2012 onward for flights from EEA and UK airports and FuelEU Maritime setting steep GHG intensity cuts of 2% by 2025, 6% by 2030, 14.5% by 2035, and 75% by 2050.
04 · Category
Operational Improvements3 stats
01
45% average reduction potential in hotel energy use from switching to efficient HVAC and lighting, based on energy efficiency studies compiled by the IEA for buildings.
02
15–25% reduction in water use from installing low-flow fixtures and flow restrictors in buildings (range from U.S. EPA water efficiency resources).
03
1.2–2.0% fuel burn reduction per year from improved aircraft engine and aerodynamic technology in aviation technology outlooks (CAGR-like annual improvement figure used in forecasts).
Interpretation
Operational Improvements Interpretation
Operational improvements can deliver significant, measurable gains, with hotels seeing a 45% average potential reduction in energy use and buildings achieving 15 to 25% lower water demand, while aviation can cut fuel burn by about 1.2 to 2.0% per year through better engines and aerodynamics.
05 · Category
Investment & Costs4 stats
01
€ 1.7 trillion additional annual investment needed by 2030 in energy systems to meet climate targets (context for travel energy transition).
02
Hotel energy efficiency retrofits can pay back in 2–5 years based on energy audit and retrofit cost analyses compiled in the IEA’s buildings efficiency guidance.
03
The International Energy Agency estimates that energy efficiency improvements provide the largest share of emissions reductions in the buildings sector (quantified in sector outlook).
04
The cost premium for SAF relative to conventional jet fuel has historically been multiple-fold, with widely cited ranges (policy and market analysis in IEA SAF report).
Interpretation
Investment & Costs Interpretation
From an Investment and Costs perspective, the travel sector faces a major scale-up challenge as it needs about €1.7 trillion in additional annual energy system investment by 2030, even though some hotel energy efficiency retrofits can pay back in as little as 2 to 5 years.
06 · Category
Technology Adoption8 stats
01
38% of hotels adopted building energy management systems (BEMS) in the last three years (adoption survey result).
02
61% of hoteliers use digital systems to manage room occupancy and HVAC control (survey finding).
03
4.6 million properties are listed on Booking.com with at least one sustainability initiative badge (listing footprint statistic).
04
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) lists 17 criteria areas for sustainable tourism destinations (standard framework quantity).
05
ISO 14064-1 defines requirements for quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas emissions at the organization level (standard scope quantity).
06
ISO 14067 specifies requirements to quantify and communicate the carbon footprint of products (standard scope quantity).
07
SBTi: 2,048 companies had targets approved by 2024 (number of companies with approved science-based targets globally).
08
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards are used by over 10,000 organizations worldwide (adoption count).
Interpretation
Technology Adoption Interpretation
Technology adoption in travel sustainability is accelerating, with 38% of hotels adopting building energy management systems and 61% using digital tools for room occupancy and HVAC control, signaling a clear shift toward data driven operations that also aligns with broader sustainability frameworks and reporting standards.
More related reading
07 · Category
Consumer Sentiment2 stats
01
61% of global travelers changed or would consider changing travel plans due to sustainability concerns in 2024, according to a Booking/consumer panel study of online travelers (survey finding).
02
45% of global travelers expect hotels to provide more sustainability information, based on a survey reported by Amadeus in 2023 (survey finding).
Interpretation
Consumer Sentiment Interpretation
For the Consumer Sentiment angle, a majority of 61% of global travelers in 2024 say they would change travel plans due to sustainability concerns, and 45% also expect hotels to share more sustainability information.
08 · Category
Emissions & Footprints1 stats
01
8.4% of global travel (hotel and accommodation-related) greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 came from buildings energy use and electricity (share of emissions by travel sub-activity, modeled).
Interpretation
Emissions & Footprints Interpretation
In the Emissions and Footprints category, buildings energy use and electricity accounted for 8.4% of global travel greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, showing that where hotels and accommodations get their power is a key contributor to travel-related emissions.
09 · Category
Operations & Adoption1 stats
01
28% of hotels in the EU report having a formal energy management system in place, according to a 2022 industry survey (operations adoption metric).
Interpretation
Operations & Adoption Interpretation
In the Operations and Adoption category, only 28% of EU hotels reported having a formal energy management system in place in 2022, showing that mainstream implementation is still limited and has clear room to scale.
10 · Category
Policy & Investment1 stats
01
The EU’s ETS airline emissions compliance covers flights departing from the EEA and UK airports from 2012 onward, requiring allowance surrender for reported emissions (policy requirement).
Interpretation
Policy & Investment Interpretation
For the Policy and Investment lens, the EU’s ETS has been covering airline emissions for flights leaving EEA and UK airports since 2012, signaling a long running regulatory framework that drives sustained allowance-based investment and compliance planning.
11 · Category
Standards & Frameworks2 stats
01
ISO 14064-1 specifies requirements for organization-level greenhouse gas inventories, including planning, quantification, and reporting (standard scope metric: requirement set).
02
ISO 14067 specifies quantification and communication of product carbon footprints, including planning and reporting requirements (standard scope metric: requirement set).
Interpretation
Standards & Frameworks Interpretation
For travel sustainability under Standards & Frameworks, ISO 14064-1 and ISO 14067 show a clear move toward standardized measurement by covering organization-level greenhouse gas inventories and product carbon footprints with planning, quantification, reporting, and communication requirements.
12 · Category
Cost & Savings1 stats
01
2.5% of hotel operating costs on average are attributable to energy expenses in the U.S., motivating energy-efficiency investments (cost share metric).
Interpretation
Cost & Savings Interpretation
On average in the U.S., energy expenses make up 2.5% of hotel operating costs, so improving energy efficiency is a practical cost-saving lever for the travel industry.
report visual · Comparison
Travel Sustainability: Emissions Impact vs. Consumer Demand
Transportation is a major emissions source, while a large share of travelers say sustainability influences their travel choices and behavior.
61% of surveyed consumers say they consider a business’s environmental sustainability when deciding where to travel.61%
54% of travelers say sustainability is a major factor in travel accommodations selection (survey finding).
54%
40% of global online travelers changed travel plans due to sustainability concerns in 2023 (consumer panel result).
40%
20% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation (including air, road, rail, and shipping).
20%
source-verifiedipcc.ch · booking.com · statista.com · hospitalitynet.org2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Travel Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-travel-industry-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "Sustainability In The Travel Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-travel-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Sustainability In The Travel Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-travel-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
39 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+16 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)