Progressing on climate action

UNWTO is inviting public and private stakeholders from around the world to take part in a Global Survey of Climate Action in Tourism and help identify front-running initiatives and opportunities to accelerate said action.

Manas Dwivedi

The objective of this global survey is to better understand the ongoing climate action efforts in the tourism sector and identify front running initiatives and opportunities to accelerate climate action. It is addressed to tourism destinations (governments and organisations), businesses (accommodation providers, tour operators and transport providers), associations and networks. The deadline to reply is July 15.

On this, Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UNWTO, said, “The pandemic and its impact on tourism, jobs and revenues, offers an unprecedented reminder of the need to rebalance our relationship with people, planet and prosperity. The green transformation of the sector is needed, not just for the planet, but also for tourism itself, boosting competitiveness and increasing resilience.”

In May, the Tourism Ministers of the G20 nations stressed the need to rethink tourism and shape a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive sector. They also committed to take action and to promote such a green transformation.  The UNWTO Recommendations for the Transition to a Green Travel and Tourism Economy, welcomed by the G20 Tourism Ministers, highlighted the need to transform tourism operations for climate action. Otherwise, emissions from global tourism could rise by at least 25% by 2030, as estimated in the latest research carried out by UNWTO and ITF. The survey is led by UNWTO in collaboration with UNFCCC and with support from the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), San Francisco State University and Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency. It is implemented within the framework of the Sustainable Tourism Programme of the One Planet Network. The Survey is also part of the preparations for the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 and the results will be presented in November in Glasgow. It has been developed within the framework of One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme.