Client Name
Eagle Wing Tours
Industry
Tourism
Location
Victoria, B.C.
Client Size
Small
Website
Services Offered
- GHG Inventory
- Target Setting
- Canada’s Net Zero Challenge Submission
Challenge
Eagle Wing Tours has been a recognized leader in sustainable tourism for over 18 years. After years of purchasing offsets for their operations, Eagle Wing wanted to move beyond measuring and offsetting to driving real decarbonization within their organization. In addition, the company sought a more ambitious, credible, and transparent framework to guide its decarbonization efforts and demonstrate industry leadership.
Eagle Wing Tours chose to align with Canada’s Net Zero Challenge, a federal initiative that supports organizations in developing and implementing credible net-zero plans. However, while the program includes a dedicated Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) stream, participation remains dominated by large corporations, positioning Eagle Wing Tours among a small number of SMEs pursuing this ambitious national framework.
The Core Challenges
- Developing a comprehensive GHG inventory aligned with Net Zero Challenge requirements
- Setting ambitious Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)-aligned interim targets
- Creating a detailed decarbonization strategy with mitigation actions for each emission source
- Establishing corporate governance structures for climate accountability
Synergy’s Solution
Synergy Enterprises partnered with Eagle Wing Tours to develop a comprehensive Net Zero submission that met all requirements of Canada’s Net Zero Challenge. This involved building a clear roadmap to decarbonization that prioritized emission reductions over offsets.
GHG Inventory and Target Setting
Synergy completed Eagle Wings’ 2024 annual greenhouse gas inventory to establish base-year emissions across all three scopes. This base year measurement represents a typical year of operations and will be used to set targets against. Once the measurement was completed, reduction targets were chosen in alignment with the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi):
- Interim targets: 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and 30% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030
- Net zero target: Net zero across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 2040
Mitigation Strategy and Scenario Analysis
The core of Synergy’s work involved developing detailed mitigation strategies through comprehensive scenario analysis. Many implementations were pulled from Eagle Wings 2024 Decarbonization Strategy, but with a new focus on reaching the net-zero targets. In the net-zero submission, emission sources are addressed by:
- Determining the most effective mitigation strategy
- Calculating projected emission reductions compared to the 2024 baseline
- Establishing implementation timelines to meet interim targets
This created a clear, actionable roadmap showing exactly how Eagle Wing Tours can achieve its targets through decarbonization.
Achieving Gold Tier Without Offsets
Canada’s Net Zero Challenge has five tiers, with the Gold Tier requiring an absolute reduction of over 40% in scope 1 and 2 emissions, typically achieved by purchasing high-quality carbon offsets. However, through the mitigation strategy and scenario analysis, Synergy demonstrated that Eagle Wing Tours could meet its interim targets solely through decarbonization actions. If residual emissions remain as Eagle Wing approaches 2040, the company will purchase offsets to remain aligned with the Net-Zero Challenge; however, based on the mitigation strategy, this should not be necessary to meet the critical 2030 interim targets. This approach represents a fundamental shift from a traditional measure-and-offset cycle to meaningful climate action focused on real emission reductions.
The Results
Eagle Wing Tours successfully achieved Gold Tier status in Canada’s Net Zero Challenge, becoming one of the first SMEs to reach this level of recognition. In completing this project, Eagle Wing now has:
- A credible, transparent framework aligned with federal climate initiatives
- Clear mitigation actions and pathways to achieve interim and long-term targets
- A plan to reach 2030 targets without purchasing carbon offsets
- Corporate governance structures to ensure accountability and annual progress reporting
Eagle Wing’s publicly available Net Zero Plan serves as a model for other tourism operators and small businesses seeking to take meaningful climate action.
Key Takeaways
SMEs Can Lead Climate Action: Canada’s Net Zero Challenge initially focused on large corporations, but the program’s expansion to include SMEs has increased the impact businesses can achieve. Eagle Wing Tours demonstrates that small and medium-sized businesses can pursue ambitious climate goals and achieve the highest standards of climate accountability. SMEs collectively play a crucial role in Canada’s path to decarbonization, and their participation normalizes net-zero planning across all business sectors.
Decarbonization Over Offsetting: This project highlights the evolution from carbon neutrality to genuine decarbonization. While carbon offsetting served as an important interim step, the focus has shifted to measurable, verifiable emission reductions. Organizations that are serious about climate action need clear pathways to eliminate emissions at the source.
The Power of Frameworks: Eagle Wing’s alignment with a rigorous, transparent framework that includes specific requirements and accountability measures is a true commitment to decarbonization. Canada’s Net Zero Challenge provides a structure that helps organizations move from aspirational goals to concrete action. However, achieving these frameworks requires detailed planning, technical expertise, and genuine commitment to implementation.
Small Organizations Have Huge Potential: Companies like Eagle Wing Tours often have significant opportunities for decarbonization. Eagle Wing’s focus on marine fuel consumption provided clear pathways to emission reductions through operational changes, vessel upgrades, and strategic planning. With the right support and commitment, many SMEs can identify similar opportunities within their operations.
Conclusion
Through 18 years of environmental stewardship and a commitment to achieve net zero, Eagle Wing has set a standard for climate action among SMEs. Eagle Wing became one of the first SMEs to achieve Gold Tier status in Canada’s Net Zero Challenge because its team invests time and care into the complex work of GHG measurement, science-based target setting, and advanced decarbonization. Eagle Wing’s approach demonstrates the holistic environmental leadership demanded by today’s climate crisis, proving that with the right partnership, technical expertise, and genuine commitment, any organization can move from aspiration to action.
Interested in pursuing Canada’s Net Zero Challenge or developing a decarbonization strategy for your business? Contact Us to learn how we can help you build a credible pathway to net zero.
