Influencer interview: Marjan Verbeek, Strategic Partnership Manager

Marjan Verbeek, Strategic Partnership Manager at Climate Neutral Group, works to help companies develop truly sustainable travel policies. After 15 years in the travel industry, she now combines entrepreneurship with a responsible future to enable the movement to net-zero emissions.

Marjan spoke at a travel industry event in Uber’s Amsterdam office, discussing a thought-provoking topic—”Sustainable business travel: is it just an impossible dream?” We’re excited to share her insights and tips on how to become climate neutral.

Let’s hear it from her:

I was working in tourism for almost 15 years when I was asked to join Climate Neutral Group to make the travel business more sustainable. It was a great challenge where I could bring my knowledge, skills, and network to create a larger impact in favour of the climate.

Besides my work I love to spend time with my family and friends, cook for them and play volleyball.

Creating a positive impact.

Again, it’s creating a positive impact but in consultation with our partners, where together we’re looking for a suitable solution within the organisation to be as sustainable as possible and future-proof (being on track towards a net-zero emissions economy).

I think the main challenge is changing behaviour. Changing behaviour remains difficult for us as human beings.

Offsetting is not the “end” solution but it is at least taking responsibility for your current emissions. This goes hand in hand with investing in technology and innovation—taking action now and investing in the future.

This means in the short term, biokerosene and synthetic kerosene will be a solution, which is what we need to focus on and invest in. For the medium to long term, electric flying could be an option for short-haul flights with smaller airplanes. And for the long term, we are really looking for a radical new way of flying.

In any case, we must be more aware of our choices. We must adopt alternative ways of travelling, which needs to be way more accessible and attractive but also change our mindset.

Never think that your own contribution is too low to make a difference. If we move and take smaller steps forward, we will make this change. We can only make an impact together and accelerate. And be aware that nothing has to be perfect in the beginning; just start!

It goes all hand in hand. We need the travellers for the demand, we need the market/business to invest in new technologies and see the new business models and opportunities, and we need to government to support this with regulations and possible support in giving incentives or funding.

I think the major change is that everybody is aware of the fact that we need to act. The urgency is there. We’re thinking about where and how to start to create an impact in favour of the climate.

They will have a great effect. We already see now that millennials are making different more sustainable choices. The technology will support us in giving better insights so we can make better conscious choices and travel in a more sustainable way. Technology will accelerate the energy transition.

I was always working in tourism, which is a great dynamic environment but not the most sustainable one. By joining Climate Neutral Group, I make business travel more sustainable on a daily basis.

Start with getting insights on your climate impact, see where you can reduce, put milestones for the coming period (one to five or ten years) adapt your policy if needed, ask for feedback, share results and follow up on this important information so you can create support. Management should lead by example.

Marjan Verbeek discussed whether sustainable business travel is achievable at a business breakfast in Uber’s Amsterdam office. Find out the highlights from this event.