For providing travellers information on how to cut their carbon emissions, an initiative has been launched by the travel industry.

The initiative, 'Reduce My Footprint' gives consumers and businesses an opportunity to offset their carbon emissions produced by car use and air travel.

The programme is led by ABTA, and is using a carbon calculator figure out the carbon footprint of an individual and they can then select the amount they want to contribute towards offsetting and various energy schemes.

The funds raised will awarded to the schemes which are certified under the Kyoto Protocol, including a wind farm project in India, and some portion will be given to the Travel Foundation - an independent UK charity.

Other money will go to an uncertified project in South Africa which gives low-income families information on how to make more fuel efficient fires for cooking in order to reduce carbon emissions.

Forum for the Future's Founder director, Jonathon Porritt, said, "It's great that the travel industry is helping its customers to seriously think about their impacts when they go on holiday. Reduce My Footprint is a good starting point for tourists who want to understand the issues, particularly climate change, and start to do something about them".

ABTA's Keith Richards said, "Signing up to Reduce My Footprint shows your leadership in addressing the climate impact of travel. It helps to differentiate your business by offering a real opportunity for customers to do something personally and it gives you information and advice to help stay ahead of the game while protecting destinations for the future".