Tourism Spotlights Climate Progress at COP28, Pushes Net-Zero Efforts
The travel sector convened global leaders this week at the pivotal 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, showcasing tourism’s emissions reduction momentum while urging expanded climate commitments.
Held alongside the pivotal climate summit, the UN World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) events revealed tourism players delivering on pledges made under last year’s Glasgow Declaration for Climate Action in Tourism.
Of over 420 industry signatories filing progress reports, 70% shared completed climate action plans detailing emissions measurements, decarbonization strategies and timetables targeting net-zero operations by 2050.
Presenters like Spain’s Canary Islands, Bucuti & Tara Resorts, cruise operator Ponant and others outlined emissions tracking initiatives, regenerative destination models and clean energy transitions. Cyprus also highlighted its national sustainable tourism scheme.
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By submitting annual implementation updates, Glasgow Declaration signees collectively exhibit tourism’s strengthening climate consciousness. Their commitments align with Paris Agreement objectives to halve emissions within this decade.
The UNWTO published an aggregated report summarizing signatories’ climate plans and first-year outcomes. While applauding tourism entities’ efforts, the agency noted greater consensus is still required around reporting methodologies and emissions inventory boundaries.
Through its breadth of low-carbon approaches, tourism’s climate plans corpus provides roadmaps applicable across hospitality firms, attractions and Transport players of all types and sizes. This underscores the power of unified industry climate strategies, although more work remains.
The UN Climate Change secretariat added the Glasgow Declaration to its online compendium of impactful sustainability initiatives in recognition of tourism’s escalating ambition.
Speaking in Dubai, UNWTO’s executive director Zoritsa Urosevic commended member states for supporting tourism’s shifting role as a climate action vanguard but urged further governments to make emissions commitments.
An official COP28 side event also conveyed tourism’s strengths enacting change through measurement, technology adoption and financial innovation. Attendees like Iberostar Group and Radisson Hotel Group discussed recent accomplishments but acknowledged steep challenges ahead.
Read more: TOURISM AT COP28 – DELIVERING ON THE CLIMATE ACTION COMMITMENTS OF THE GLASGOW DECLARATION
Expectations are for the Glasgow Declaration’s reach to continue expanding over 2023’s record 857 signers across 90+ countries. Year two implementation updates will indicate tourism’s capability to walk the climate talk through authentic transformation.
With sustainability demands escalating across travel, the industry realizes concrete collective progress is the only viable path. Forging ahead, collaborative breakthroughs can position tourism addressing the grave threats posed by warming in solidarity with humankind.
