The European Travel Commission (ETC) has launched a climate action plan which commits to halving emissions generated by the organisation’s operations by 2030.
The plan will also offer support to ETC members, which are tourism organisations across Europe.
It said in a statement: “As a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, ETC understands that the relationship between tourism and climate change is unquestionable.
“The tourism industry has both a responsibility and an opportunity to protect the resources it depends on, including the natural environments, wildlife, and cultural heritage that bring travel experiences to life.”
Luís Araújo, ETC president, said: “Addressing the challenges of climate change, building a more resilient and regenerative sector, and restoring and revitalising destination resources should be a priority and responsibility for all tourism stakeholders.
“ With this comprehensive plan, ETC not only strives to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations, but also to empower ETC members to take bold climate action and inspire the industry towards impactful initiatives.”
The plan was presented at the ETC General Meeting in Tallinn, hosted by Visit Estonia.
This year, Tallinn holds the title of the European Green Capital, thanks to its commitment to biodiversity, sustainable governance, and climate and green innovation.
At an operational level, ETC will target emissions hotspots such as business travel, events, and fam trips as it seeks to reach Net Zero before 2050.
It is establishing a climate action working group within the ETC and developing an initiative to improve the skills and knowledge of ETC members in climate action.
An online platform for ETC members will be created to share best practice examples, case studies and tools for climate action.
The climate action plan was developed with the support of the Travel Foundation, a leading international sustainable tourism organisation.
Pictured: heart-shaped island on river in Upper Berounka natural park, Czech Republic. By Kletr/Shutterstock