The travel and tourism sector is being urged to find new, innovative and sustainable ways to reduce its carbon footprint.
The call came yesterday from UN climate change executive secretary Patricia Espinosa.
She was speaking as the World Travel & Tourism Council and UN Climate Change showcased how the industry can take steps towards carbon neutrality by 2050 at the UN Climate Conference (COP24) in Katowice, Poland.
Espinosa said: “On a basic level, doing so is simply a question of survival.
“But on another level, it’s about capturing opportunity. It’s about transforming your businesses to be part of a global economic shift – one marked by sustainable growth and powered by renewable energy.”
Inia Seruiratu, Fiji’s minister for defence and national security, warned: “We are already experiencing the impacts of climate change in Fiji and in the rest of our Pacific Island countries.
“The travel and tourism sector is a major revenue earner for our country. Unfortunately, the attractions that drive this sector – our reefs, sandy beaches, clear seas, and forest biodiversity – are under threat from the impacts of climate change.
“Innovative financing where the travel and tourism sector can support our small island economies to respond to these threats is needed and I am very encouraged that the sector is eager to engage in such initiatives and strengthen public-private partnerships in the fight against climate change.”
An international treaty was signed by the WTTC and UN Climate Change in April to aim for the stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
WTTC president and chief executive Gloria Guevara said: “Travel and tourism has an important role to play around the world in economic development, presently accounting for 10.4% of global GDP and supporting one in ten of all jobs, which is more than comparative sectors, such as automotive, chemicals manufacturing, banking and financial services.
“Given our sector’s contribution to social and economic development, it is important that travel and tourism plays its part in the drive towards climate neutrality, under the auspices of the UN Climate Change body.
“We are announcing that we will continue to work with UN Climate Change to highlight to consumers the positive contribution travel and tourism can make to building climate resilience; the establishment of an industry recognition scheme; and the creation of an annual ‘State of the Climate’ event and report to evaluate, monitor and share progress towards climate neutrality.
“As a major world sector, travel and tourism stands ready to play its part in this bright future.”