A global team of academics in UK has developed a blockchain and AI-based mechanism to transform carbon offsetting in the tourism industry, turning environmental responsibility into a profitable, transparent investment, said Eduard Goean, Visiting Professor at Surrey Business School, University of Surrey.
“If we can convince travelers to pay just a small fee to offset their carbon footprint, they not only support green projects, they become investors in the process, with full transparency and potential returns,” said Goean at the “International Approach London” conference, organized by Energynomics in London.
The initiative, labeled the Carbon Tokenomics Model, aims to solve a persistent challenge in the tourism sector: persuading cost-conscious travelers to take meaningful climate action. By combining advanced emissions calculators with blockchain technology and artificial intelligence, the model allows passengers to pay a minor carbon fee, sometimes as little as one pound, which is then directed into verified green projects, such as sustainable aviation fuel production.
The team developed a dynamic emissions calculator for air travel that accounts for fuel, aircraft lifecycle, airport operations, and even non-CO₂ effects like nitrogen oxides, water vapor, and contrail-induced cloudiness. Passengers who contribute to the system receive digital assets, named carbon tokens, recorded on the blockchain. These tokens not only document the offset but also provide access to investment returns from the green projects they support. The mechanism integrates AI to rank participants based on engagement, creating incentives for active involvement in sustainability initiatives.
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“Tourism is the ‘Cinderella’ of the economy. If we can make carbon offsetting appealing here, the model can scale to other sectors, creating a new pool of green investment globally”, Goean stated.
The conference “International Approach London” was organized by Energynomics, with the support of the Embassy of Romania to the UK and the British Embassy in Romania, together with our partners: AJ BRAND, Electrica, Monsson, MyEnerji, Nofar Energy, Waldevar.