PATA Achieves Carbon Neutrality with Global Offsets

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has reached a significant sustainability milestone—achieving complete carbon neutrality for all its activities in 2024. This accomplishment was made possible through strategic carbon offset initiatives in Cambodia and Thailand, aligning with PATA’s commitment to responsible tourism and climate action.

Since 2022, PATA has implemented emission reduction strategies under its Climate Action Plan, including sustainable event design, digital optimization, and collaborations with eco-conscious partners. However, specific emissions—such as transportation, electricity use, and waste—remain unavoidable. To address this, PATA has supported verified carbon offset projects that reduce emissions, protect biodiversity, and empower local communities.

Global Offset Initiatives Drive Sustainable Tourism

To achieve carbon neutrality, PATA strategically offset emissions from its significant events and operations through three key projects:

1. Keo Seima Project (Cambodia) – Protecting Forests & Indigenous Communities

PATA offsets emissions from its flagship events, the PATA Annual Summit 2024 (PAS 2024) in Macau and the PATA Travel Mart 2024 (PTM 2024) in Bangkok, through the Keo Seima Project. This initiative protects the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary in Cambodia, helps prevent deforestation, conserves biodiversity, and safeguards the rights of the Indigenous Bunong people.

Impact Highlights:

• Offset 354.75 MTCO2e from PAS 2024 and 490.9 MTCO2e from PTM 2024.
• Combats illegal logging and poaching, preserving one of Cambodia’s richest ecosystems.
• Supports climate-smart farming, ecotourism, and skills training, generating sustainable income.
• Improves access to clean water, healthcare, and education for local communities.

2. Southern Cardamom Project (Cambodia) – Preserving Rainforests & Wildlife

Thailand’s PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2024 (PDMF 2024) was offset through the Southern Cardamom Project, a conservation initiative protecting one of Southeast Asia’s last primary rainforests.

Impact Highlights:

• Offset 120.91 MTCO2e from PDMF 2024.
• Provides sustainable employment in ecotourism, conservation, and sustainable agriculture.
• Strengthens community-led forest protection, with over 130 rangers patrolling the area.

3. PSTC Solar Farm (Thailand) – Advancing Renewable Energy

PATA’s general operations, including staff travel, office activities, and training programmes, were offset through Thailand’s PSTC Solar Farm 10 MW Project. This renewable energy initiative, registered with the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation, supports clean power production and reduces reliance on fossil fuels.

Impact Highlights:

• Offset 95 MTCO2e from PATA’s operations.
• Contributes to Thailand’s transition to renewable energy.
• Reinforces environmental sustainability across PATA’s capacity-building programmes in Kuching and Macau.

PATA’s Commitment to a Sustainable Future

Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO of PATA, emphasized the critical role of sustainability in shaping the future of travel:

“Sustainability is no longer an option; it is a responsibility. In 2024, we achieved full carbon neutrality for the first time, offsetting emissions from all our events, operations, and capacity-building initiatives.”

He further added:

“As the tourism industry moves towards a more responsible future, PATA remains committed to reducing our footprint while supporting projects that protect biodiversity, empower local communities, and ensure the long-term sustainability of travel. In 2025, we will further refine our sustainability strategies, enhance our Climate Action Plan, and explore third-party emissions verification to ensure transparency and accountability.”

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