In this groundbreaking development, tourism has been officially included for the first time in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29 action agenda. The historic move was announced by the agenda on Wednesday at the summit in Azerbaijan, a significant step made towards curbing climate change, especially a sector accountable for nearly 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Commitment to Climate-Friendly Tourism Globally
More than 50 governments signed the Enhanced Climate Action on Tourism declaration, which commits them to mainstreaming climate action in their tourism plans and strategies. The initiative will focus on the alignment of tourism policies with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which represent commitments by countries under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions. The next round of NDC updates is expected by February 2025.
“At COP 29 we have made history for being, for the first time ever, included in the UN Climate Change Conference Action Agenda, UN Ex Dir of Tourism Zoritsa Urosevic says with a smile during her presser.
The declaration illustrates the increasing understanding of tourism’s dual role in climate debates: being at the same time a source of global emissions and a sector vulnerable to climate change disruptions.
Why Climate Action in Tourism Matters
While tourism may account for only 3% of global GDP, its share of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions is 8.8%, Urosevic reports. This disproportionate impact makes the sector a keystone in fighting climate change.
In the emerging economy case, stakes are higher. Tourism is often a key revenue earner, bringing much-needed foreign exchange. But there are more and more extreme weather events threatening the industry’s very survival in the forms of hurricanes, heat waves, and droughts.
“As our head of tourism agency said during the summit, “We now understand that the future of our business depends on the sustainability of our actions today”, said Kanan Gasimov, head of Azerbaijan’s tourism agency.
The declaration focuses on integrating climate considerations into policies about tourism. This is meant to overcome those challenges while guiding the sector toward sustainable growth.
Industry Leadership in Sustainability
To fulfill this global pledge, the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance unveiled new standards for tracking and reporting environmental impacts within the hospitality sector. More than 55,000 hotels worldwide, consisting of seven million rooms, are represented by the Alliance, which comprises major brands such as Accor, Hilton, and Marriott.
The framework is intended to measure key parameters, such as greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, waste generation, and energy usage. For the initiative to help businesses and travelers alike understand the size of their environmental footprint and take serious action, standardized data is provided.
“We are an industry that has a vested interest in the protection of each destination,” said Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. “We have to have a conversation where we can play a bigger role.”
The framework aligns with the goals of the U.N. declaration and provides tools for businesses to transition toward more sustainable operations.
Paving the Way for Climate-Resilient Tourism
It is, therefore, the signing of the declaration of U.N. plus introducing actionable frameworks that indicate a shift on the perception and management of tourism alongside climate change. Indeed, tourism has remained as the power element behind economies for some time, yet now its environmental impact spotlights the issue.
By integrating tourism into the COP29 Action Agenda, it becomes a precedent in future climate summits, ensuring that this sector goes on to feature as an integral part of global climate strategies. The initiative also underlines a shared responsibility between governments, industries, and individuals towards sustainable travel.
As tourism continues to recover from the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, this milestone presents an opportunity to rebuild the sector with sustainability at its core. By prioritizing climate action, the industry can protect the destinations it depends on while contributing to broader global efforts to combat climate change.
A Collaborative Path Forward
Cop29 continues to portray alliances which give light to very powerful partnerships in dealing with complex challenges at the global level. Governments, industry leaders, and organizations have joined forces for guiding a more sustainable path in the tourism arena.
Today’s actions are projected to pay long-term dividends, for the industry itself as well as for the millions of communities and ecosystems upon which the tourism industry is predicated. With the world grappling with the very realities of climate change, moving tourism towards the mainstream of the U.N. Climate Change Conference Action Agenda is a good step in the right direction, promising a greener and more resilient future.