Assessing the Carbon Footprint of the 2024 Italian K2 Expedition: A Path Towards Sustainable High-Altitude Tourism

Often considered the most pristine natural areas, mountains are the third most important tourist destination in the world after coasts and islands, contributing significantly to the tourism sector (15–20%). Tourism is economically important for many mountain communities and is among the key drivers of economic growth in mountain regions worldwide. However, these high-altitude places are under increasing pressure from activities such as expeditions and trekking, which can contribute to the degradation of mountain ecosystems. In this study, we focused on the Italian expedition to K2 in July 2024, which celebrated the 70th anniversary of the first ascent in 1954. In particular, we assessed its environmental impact by estimating the expedition’s carbon footprint. We also discussed the different impact compared to the previous Italian expeditions. Overall, the 2024 Italian expedition to K2 had a carbon footprint of 27,654 kg CO2-eq, or 1383 kg CO2-eq per team member that flew from Italy. Air transport (i.e., the flight from Italy to Pakistan via Islamabad) was the largest source of emissions (91.7%, divided into 66.4% for passengers and 25.4% for cargo). Waste incineration was the smallest contributor (1.1%). Instead of using traditional diesel generators, the 2024 expedition used photovoltaic panels to generate electricity, eliminating further local greenhouse gas emissions. At the carbon credit price of 61.30 USD/ton of CO2 or 57.02 EUR/ton of CO2, offsetting the expedition’s emissions would cost 1695 USD or EUR 1577. This approach seems feasible and effective for mitigating the environmental impact of expeditions such as the one performed in 2024 by Italians.