Intrepid backs global climate strike
Intrepid Travel is urging the industry to support the global Climate Strike this Friday, September 20.
The responsible travel operator has contacted agent partners to encourage them to take part in the global mass day of action, three days before the United Nations climate summit in New York.
Intrepid is closing its global headquarters in Melbourne for the day so staff can join the youth-led movement.
In an open letter, CEO James Thornton (pictured) said: "We are at a pivotal moment in time. Taking definitive action to fight the climate crisis is critical.
"Children around the world have been leading the way through the Climate Strike movement, and now is the time for adults – and business leaders – to stand up and support the call for immediate action.
"At Intrepid, we believe that we have a particular responsibility to take climate action – because flying is a big contributor to emissions, and we want to ensure we are doing everything we can to mitigate our impact. We have been climate neutral since 2010, and in 2020 we will become a Climate Positive business.
"We firmly believe that there are positive solutions available – but change is happening too slowly. We need individuals, businesses and governments to work together to make change happen.
"This is especially true now, when short-term decision-making is putting future generations at risk. We want to send a clear message that we stand in solidarity with our children, and that we demand immediate action."
Intrepid has joined B Corp business collective This is not business as usual, a group of Australian and global companies pledging to support worker participation in the strike.
"Every business can do something, whether it’s closing the doors, having a meeting-free day, allowing a long lunch, or sending an email to make it clear teams will not be penalised for taking a few hours off," the companies said.
Strikes are planned in 120 countries across the world and organisers expect hundreds of thousands of people to protest government inaction on climate change.
For more information on the global climate strike, click here.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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