Accor is pursuing its commitment to a net zero strategy with two new initiatives. On November 3, Accor, along with 13 other members of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance announced a new "Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality." Supported by the World Travel & Tourism Council, this initiative offers a practical framework for hotels—both chains and independents—to improve their environmental impact. Proposing practical tools for four clear stages, the Pathway will guide hotels toward a regenerative impact on the planet, addressing critical issues including emissions, water usage, waste and resource procurement.
Simultaneously, the Alliance introduced affiliate membership for developers, investors and franchises to advance sustainability across the hospitality industry.
Accor also signed the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism launched by the U.N. World Tourism Organization (UNTWO) on November 4. So far, more than 300 public and private tourism organizations have agreed to halve their emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. To support this commitment, each signatory must deliver a concrete, up-to-date climate plan within 12 months, based on the Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality.
These initiatives reinforce the strong commitments already made by Accor. Notably, in March 2021, the company set an ambitious science-based emissions reduction target: A decrease of 46 percent in absolute emissions by 2030 compared to the 2019 base year, validated by the Science Based Target initiative. Accor also joined the “Business Ambition for 1.5°C” program, making it the first international hotel group to make a long-term commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
To deliver this progress, Accor has introduced a dedicated carbon strategy built on four pillars:
- Promoting a low-carbon mindset across the company and with its partners thanks to measurement tools, targets, as well as engagement with hotel owners, partners, suppliers and guests in a range of areas including in striving for zero food waste goal.
- Transitioning to smart green hotel by strengthening the low-carbon transition for existing hotels and enhancing hotel brand, design, and technical standards to improve energy efficiency and support the net-zero transition.
- Accelerating the use of green (wind and solar) energy, with procurement solutions accelerating new partnerships and suppliers.
- Reaching net zero faster with the launch of new guest offerings and carbon offsetting solutions and its "Plant for the Planet Program."
As part of its carbon commitment, Accor recently launched a number of tools for its hotels and clients, including a survey and score card for hotels to build their energy performance and saving opportunities, and a net zero carbon calculator to help Meeting & Event clients calculate the carbon footprint of their event and allow the purchase of carbon credits to balance the remaining emissions.
As the largest contributor to hotels’ carbon footprint, energy is also the second-largest operating cost for hotels. Initiatives like these not only minimize the environmental impact but reduce costs while meeting increasing customer demand for sustainability and hotel environmental data.
The U.N. Climate Change Summit (COP26) in Glasgow ended November 12 with a clear consensus that the world needs to do much more to limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2050 and avert a climate crisis.
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