Pioneers in Decarbonizing Tourism
Two influential organizations, Tourism Declares and the Travel Foundation, have joined forces to accelerate the decarbonization of tourism and address the urgent need to address climate change. By pursuing partnerships and working together, they aim to ensure that tourism businesses and destinations can rapidly adapt to the changing climate and support ecosystem regeneration.
- By supporting Tourism Declares, the Travel Foundation is taking the lead in promoting climate action in the tourism sector, with a focus on climate equity and resilience, as well as the needs of destination communities.
- Additionally, the partnership will accelerate the ambitions of the Glasgow Declaration, a global commitment aimed at reducing sector emissions in half by 2030, aligning climate action plans across five pathways, and reporting publicly on progress made.
- The Travel Foundation will also initiate a program of activities, including publishing an annual progress report, developing sector-wide approaches to carbon measurement and reporting, and strengthening collaboration among destinations.
The Glasgow Declaration: A Global Commitment
The Glasgow Declaration, launched at COP26 on November 4, marks a significant milestone for climate action in tourism. As a member of the five-party Drafting Committee, Tourism Declares was instrumental in the Declaration’s creation, which aims to halve sector emissions by 2030 and align climate action plans across five pathways.
- Key aspects of the Declaration include: cutting sector emissions in half by 2030; aligning climate action plans across five pathways; and reporting publicly on progress made.
- Additionally, the Declaration emphasizes the need for climate equity and resilience, as well as the needs of destination communities.
Accelerating Climate Action with the Travel Foundation
By partnering with the Travel Foundation, Tourism Declares can accelerate its climate action efforts, leveraging the organization’s expertise and resources to drive sector-wide change. The partnership will enable Tourism Declares to focus on advocacy and catalyzing accelerated climate action, while the Travel Foundation will take the lead in promoting climate action in tourism.
“The Glasgow Declaration isn’t just a pledge – it is a commitment to take action to halve tourism’s emissions by 2030, and to report on progress made each year.” – Jeremy Smith, co-founder of Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency.
Leading the Way for Climate-Positive Tourism
According to Jeremy Sampson, CEO of the Travel Foundation, “We know we must collaborate and scale-up like never before, connecting both ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ approaches by galvanizing community action and creating levers for change across governments and corporations. Tourism’s transition to climate positive is also about tourism’s transformation more generally, shifting to a more equitable model that balances the needs of residents and businesses while managing and reducing its burden on destinations.”
- Publishing an annual progress report for the Glasgow Declaration.
- Developing consistent, sector-wide approaches to carbon measurement and reporting.
- Road-testing new ways to tackle the complex, shared responsibilities under “scope 3” (value chain) emissions.
- Strengthening collaboration and community through the Tourism Declares online community and volunteer network, and the planned formation of regional hubs.
- Building the capacity of Glasgow Declaration signatories and scaling the necessary knowledge, tools, and inspiration needed for sector-wide change.
“Being part of the Travel Foundation allows us to take our efforts to the next level for global impact.” – Jeremy Smith, co-founder of Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency.
Tourism’s transition to climate positive is not just about reducing emissions, but also about transforming the tourism sector into a more equitable model that balances the needs of residents and businesses while managing and reducing its burden on destinations. The partnership between Tourism Declares and the Travel Foundation is a crucial step towards achieving this vision.
| Key Benefits | Key Activities |
|---|---|
| Collaboration and scale-up | Publishing an annual progress report, developing sector-wide approaches to carbon measurement and reporting, and strengthening collaboration among destinations. |
| Climate equity and resilience | Building the capacity of Glasgow Declaration signatories and scaling the necessary knowledge, tools, and inspiration needed for sector-wide change. |
| Destination community needs | Strengthening collaboration and community through the Tourism Declares online community and volunteer network, and the planned formation of regional hubs. |
Conclusion
The partnership between Tourism Declares and the Travel Foundation marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of climate action in tourism. By working together, they aim to accelerate the decarbonization of tourism, support ecosystem regeneration, and promote climate equity and resilience. As the tourism sector continues to evolve, it is essential that we prioritize sustainability and take bold action to address the urgent need to address climate change.
This partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of working together to drive sector-wide change.
