Free Climate Action Accelerator for tourism businesses
Visit Scotland has partnered with Climate Springboard to launch a free net zero support programme for tourism and events businesses in Scotland.
The Climate Action Accelerator helps companies to take low-cost and practical actions to reduce their carbon emissions.
But it’s not just about carbon: making a climate action plan can help tourism businesses cut energy bills, attract new visitors, access grants, and prepare for extreme weather.
The online programme is delivered by the Climate Springboard team at Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI), who have supported over 300 businesses to date.
It includes four workshops over six weeks. Each business will leave with:
- a carbon footprint, calculated in-house
- a climate action plan
- immediate actions to start reducing emissions, cutting costs and improving resilience
- access to a new network of like-minded businesses on the same journey
The accelerator will offer up several cohorts each year for three consecutive years.
Businesses can register here – Climate Accelerator Note of Interest
Why now?
Climate change is both one of the biggest threats and opportunities facing the tourism and events industry.
There are just under five years left to support delivery of the Outlook 2030 strategy, part of Scotland’s wider transition to a net zero economy, and only 15 years from that point until Scotland’s 2045 net zero target.
This programme will provide real data, evidence, and case studies to inform future funding, opportunities, and scalability for climate action in tourism.
With carbon budgets and legislative changes approaching, the accelerator offers scalable support and practical solutions for the industry in the years ahead, helping tourism businesses seize the opportunities of the transition and reduce any risk.
Delivered by experts in SME climate action
For more than a decade, the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) has delivered net zero and sustainability business support programmes.
Climate Springboard is the institute’s flagship, a small-and-medium-enterprise-focused programme, with a proven track record.
Since its launch, the free-to-attend programme has supported over 300 small and medium enterprises across Scotland to measure their carbon emissions, develop net zero and climate action plans, and take practical steps to reduce emissions.
Based at the University of Edinburgh, the institute is recognised as a world-leading hub for applied climate action.
For this programme, the institute will adapt its proven Climate Springboard framework specifically for tourism and events, ensuring it meets the needs of our industry.
Delivered by experts in SME climate action
Places are available on a first-come, first-served basis, for cohorts starting throughout 2026.
VisitScotland is aiming to run this programme for another two years, but the quicker businesses start this journey the better, as customers are now seeking to stay and visit businesses who are trying to reduce pressures on environmental impact they have on their holidays.
Places are still available on the February cohort, which starts on Thursday 12th February, 9:30-12:00. The following cohort starts in March.
For full cohort dates, register your interest here: https://visitscotland.eventsair.com/climate-accelerator-programme/climate-accelerator/Site/Register
VisitScotland announcement: Free Climate Action Accelerator programme launch – News | VisitScotland.org
