AIR MILES

GARETH REDMOND-KING

is head of climate and energy policy at WWF-UK (wwf.org.uk). He works on advocacy and campaigns to tackle climate change.

What encouraged you to work for WWF?

We are the first generation to know just how much harm we are doing to our planet and could be the last that can do anything about it. We have the opportunity to prevent climate breakdown; what else could I do but get involved?

Can travel be a force for environmental good?

Travel helps to connect people and cultures and builds understanding. WWF is an international organisation, so we have staff who work around the world – you can’t do all of that by a conference call. But air travel can also contribute to the problems we’re tackling and it’s a tool we must use sparingly.

How do you balance a sustainable ethos with air travel for work?

Our policy is to travel only where it is genuinely necessary via the most sustainable means. All of WWF-UK’s air travel has to come out of an annual carbon budget for the whole organisation.

How can travellers minimise harm?

We need to develop a sense of flygskam – or flight shame! The Swedish flygskam campaign has seen Swedes voluntarily cut down on their flying. Those who fly most often – and their employers – need to challenge themselves to cut back and assess whether a meeting can be done by other means. For short-haul trips, rail services in the UK and Europe are fast and comfortable. When we can’t avoid it, offset the carbon – but do it properly. Go to goldstandard.org for projects that make measurable contributions to sustainable development.

Most rewarding travel experience for work?

Ilulissat in Greenland, where I witnessed not just the awesome force of nature that is the Jakobshavn glacier, and the communities and wildlife that live around it, but also the impacts of climate change.

How could the travel industry improve?

Businesses should sign up to science-based targets to reduce their emissions in line with keeping warming to 1.5 degrees. The ScienceBased Target Initiative exists to support businesses to do this, and certifies their targets. If BT Group and Tesco can, then anyone can. For the full interview, visit businesstraveller.com