The Problem With Tracking Short-Term Rental Emissions: ‘How on Earth Do You Count Them?’
Photo Credit: A property with solar panels installed on the roof. Photo by Kindel Media: https://www.pexels.com/photo/industry-house-roof-technology-9875680/
Skift Take
It can be tough to know where to start when it comes to counting emissions from guest stays, especially for individual short-term rental hosts. But as major travel companies commit to net-zero goals, can these emissions be ignored?
While many hotels, airlines, and tour operators have started to measure and report their greenhouse gas emissions, tracking the impact of short-term rentals remains a blind spot.
The largest players in the industry say they want to reduce their carbon footprints but they don’t account for emissions when guests stay in homes listed on their platforms.
“No one does it and it is not on the agenda for short-term rental owners,” said one industry executive at the recent Short Stay Summit in London.
“Our travel provider partners’ emissions are not included in our emissions, which is in line with SBTI guidance,” said a spokesperson for Booking Holdings, referring to the Science Based Targets Initiative, which sets industry standards for emissions.
In its latest environmental report, Airbnb said that while its revenue has more than doubled since 2019, corporate emissions have remained flat. Airbnb measures energy used in offices, em
