How Google is empowering sustainable travel choices through technology and collaboration

Sustainability In The Air

In this episode, we speak with Sebnem Erzan, Global Head of Travel Sustainability & Transport at Google. Erzan shares the tech giant’s vision for sustainable travel, which focuses on empowering users with accurate and consistent information to make environmentally conscious travel decisions.

Erzan highlights the importance of the Travel Impact Model, a transparent and non-commercial tool developed by Google to calculate carbon emissions for flights. The model, overseen by an independent advisory committee, is available to the entire industry, fostering collaboration and alignment in emissions measurement.

She also discusses Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance user experience by providing meaningful context to carbon emissions data, such as comparing emissions to the amount of CO2 absorbed by trees. She emphasises the need for consistent information across platforms to avoid confusion and drive behavioural change.

Erzan also underscores the significance of collaboration and partnerships within the industry. Google works closely with various stakeholders, including airlines, NGOs, and policymakers, to align methodologies and improve the accuracy of emissions calculations. Notably, Google’s collaboration with ICAO aims to establish global standards and enhance the accuracy of flight emissions calculations.

If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Nora Lovell Marchant, Vice President of Global Sustainability at Amex GBT, about the company’s net zero efforts such as a blockchain-powered Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) platform, an independently verified carbon offsetting programme and more... Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [e-mail]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

Travel Impact Model

ICAO and Google to collaborate on improving methodology for calculating flight carbon emissions - ICAO

Google hands over its tool for estimating flight emissions to an independent advisory group - The Verge

How emissions are estimated - Google Travel Help

Google Joins Amex GBT SAF Program - Business Travel News

How Amex GBT is building platforms for SAF and Carbon Offsets - SimpliFlying