Sept 11 Reuters Global tech giants halved their business flight emissions in 2023 compared to 2019, but companies like Apple and Google39;s parent Alphabet are falling behind, risking a return to prepandemic levels, a Brusselsbased NGO said in a report.

Business travel last year approached prepandemic levels but trailed behind leisure trips, as geopolitical conflicts and a slower rebound in key markets hindered full recovery.

Emissions from corporate flights by 26 major tech companies analysed by Travel Smart, a campaign led by Transport Environment TE dropped by an average of 49 in 2023, it found.

While this shows that many tech firms are on the right path, only seven have set specific reduction targets that are essential to keeping business flight numbers in check, TE said.

Alphabet, which has not set a goal to cut emissions, and Apple, which set a broader target, are slowly creeping back toward 2019 levels, TE said.

The two were among the worst performers, with reductions in corporate travel emissions of just 23 and 31 in 2023, respectively.

How can Google chief Sundar Pichai say that Google is progressing to a sustainable future when its travel emissions are going in the wrong direction? said Denise Auclair, corporate travel manager at TE.

Microsoft, IBM, and SAP, despite significant cuts, are also at risk as they are among the companies that fly the most without having set reduction goals, TE said.

Tech companies have claimed to be climate leaders for a…