KPMG & Accenture, GSK failing to keep up with industry leaders in cutting corporate travel emissions

(Transport and Environment, 12 Mar 2024) Twenty-five of the world's biggest flyers are yet to set targets to reduce corporate flights, despite being responsible for over a third of the travel emissions recorded in the latest edition of the Travel Smart Ranking.

Twenty five companies have been singled out in the latest edition of the Travel Smart Ranking, which assesses the efforts and commitments made by multinationals to reduce business travel by air. They are considered poor performers on the basis of two criteria: 1) high CO₂ emissions due to employee air travel; 2) no credible targets to reduce these emissions, despite often promoting their green credentials. These 25 multinationals are responsible for 36% of business travel emissions recorded in the ranking.

The analysis shows that if just these top 25 flyers cut their business flying in half, it would achieve a third of the emissions reductions needed by 2025 from the 328 companies in the ranking^[1]. The 5.9 Mt of CO₂ saved would be equivalent to the emissions produced by 3 million cars in a year.

The analysis shows a stark juxtaposition between companies in the same industry – with ambitious companies setting targets and laggard companies refusing to do so year after year. Among the top flyers without targets are consulting giants KPMG and Accenture. On the other hand, peers EY, PwC and Deloitte are much more ambitious, with plans to reduce what is often regarded as ‘the low hanging fruit’ of a company’s climate footprint.

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Transport and Environment, 12 Mar 2024: KPMG & Accenture, GSK failing to keep up with industry leaders in cutting corporate travel emissions