Travel Trends with Dan Christian Climate Leadership in Action: Inside Intrepid’s Decarbonization Journey with Dr. Susanne Etti
Start the new year with a clear-eyed plan for transformational travel. In the final episode of our Sustainability Series, we sit down with Dr. Susanne Etti, Intrepid’s Global Environmental Impact Manager, to explore how one of the world’s leading adventure brands is moving sustainability from promises to proof-phasing out offsets, investing directly in decarbonization, and expanding carbon measurement to include the full customer lifecycle, even flights they don’t sell.
Dr. Etti breaks down Intrepid’s three-pillar approach. First: rigorous measurement and transparent reporting that capture everything from on-trip transport and lodging to meals, waste, and now customer air travel. Second: deep decarbonization, including EV adoption for ground transfers, renewable energy across global offices, and itinerary redesigns that remove flights where safe and feasible. Third: climate literacy and advocacy, empowering teams worldwide to understand the data, communicate tradeoffs honestly, and guide travelers with carbon labels and clear storytelling.
For travelers, choosing better is about recognizing the signals that matter: B Corp certification, public impact reports, carbon-label transparency, local leadership on trips, and partnerships that support ecosystems and communities. For operators, the roadmap is practical and actionable, measure accurately, engage suppliers, design lower-carbon products, educate teams, and stay transparent about the challenges. Intrepid’s 2030 goal - an 8% reduction across the full customer journey illustrates what accountability at scale truly looks like.
This episode is a grounded, hopeful blueprint for anyone who wants travel to be both meaningful now and sustainable long into the future.
Thanks to Intrepid for sponsoring this series!
👉 Listen to Climate Leadership in Action: Inside Intrepid’s Decarbonization Now
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 6 Title Sponsors for their Support: Holafly, Propellic, PayCompass, Kaptio, Civitatis and WeRoad
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