Net zero hotels: Why cutting emissions comes before carbon trading

Hotels face growing pressure to cut carbon, but many still think buying offsets is the main path to net zero. This article breaks down why that approach is backward. The Science Based Targets initiative requires deep internal reductions before any carbon trading, and most hotels can cut emissions by 30 to 50 percent just by fixing HVAC systems, upgrading equipment, and switching to heat pumps and renewables. Operational changes like smart occupancy controls and electrification of heating and kitchens deliver real savings while lowering costs. Carbon credits have a role, but only after hotels have done the hard work of reducing their own emissions first. The piece is a practical reminder that credible net zero starts with efficiency, not offsets.