10/10/2011
The tourism sector contributes around 5
percent of global greenhouse gas
emissions Photo: UNEP/GRID-Arendal
Paris / Nairobi, 10 October 2011 - Greenhouse
gas emissions from the global tourism industry
are set to at least double in the next 25
years unless more low carbon, resource efficient
policies are developed, according to a new
report by the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) and the Organisation of
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Drawing on the results
of a survey sent to OECD member countries
and selected non-members, the study finds
mitigation has received more attention than
adaptation and that national emissions reduction
strategies relating to tourism won't be
enough to bring the sector into line with
the international community's overall objective
of reducing emissions by at least 50% by
2050.
Today, most energy for
tourism is derived from fossil fuels, with
the sector contributing an estimated 5 per
cent to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Aviation currently accounts for 40 per cent
of tourism's CO2 emissions, car transport
for 32 per cent and accommodation for 21
per cent.
Many governments and
tourism organisations favour reducing the
emissions from tourism in line with the
reductions required of other sectors. Others,
because of the structure of their economies,
the importance of the tourism industry to
national welfare, or their distance from
large global markets, will seek to achieve
net emissions reductions by combining tourism
with other sectors.
"Policy-makers
must find the responses that are most appropriate
to their own circumstances", said Arab
Hoballah, Chief of the Sustainable Consumption
and Production Branch at UNEP's Paris-based
Division of Technology, Industry and Economics."
This report, which underlines the magnitude
of the challenges we face, provides relevant
and useful information to that end. There
is much to be learned, too, from examples
of good practice."
The report identifies
how countries such as Austria, Germany,
Ireland, and South Africa have shown that
it is possible to identify current and future
impacts and adaptation needs. It nevertheless
concludes that the definition of adaptation
goals and the implementation of policies
are still in a developmental stage in virtually
all countries. It also highlights key research
gaps: How will heat stress in the Mediterranean
affect tourism flows, for instance, or how
sustainable is the development of snowmaking
capacities as a measure to compensate for
loss of natural snow?
"Reducing the climate
impact of tourist travel, facilities and
activities is essential both for the sustainable
development of this expanding industry,
in line with overall climate policy objectives,
and for the future of many of the very attractions
which tourists seek and enjoy," said
Alain Dupeyras, head of the Centre for Entrepreneurship
(CFE) Tourism Unit at OECD.
The report identifies
water availability and quality as key issues,
which also depend on how effectively greenhouse
gas emissions are limited over the coming
decades. The number of people facing water
scarcity could rise by more than two billion
in a 2°C to 3°C average warming
scenario by 2100. Many of the assets tourism
uses, such as lakes, rivers, snow and fresh
water, will be affected, as may the broader
socio-economic stability upon which tourism
depends.
Tourism is one of ten
economic sectors covered in UNEP'S Green
Economy Report, launched in February, which
outlines how to boost economic growth while
reducing environmental risks and improving
human well-being and social equity.
In the run-up to the
United Nations Sustainable Development Conference
(Rio+20) in June 2012, the UNEP/OECD study
emphasises how government policy, industry
initiatives and a wide range of green technologies
can help tourism follow a low carbon, resource
efficient Green Economy path, which would
reduce energy use, greenhouse emissions
and water consumption.
The report highlights
measures being taken in several countries
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from
the tourism industry:
Austria
*Austria is in the process
of developing a national adaptation strategy,
which can be expected in 2011
*Research projects:
Up to now 11 projects and studies focusing
explicitly on the interrelationship between
climate change and tourism have been conducted
Germany
*In 2007 the government
adopted an ambitious energy and climate
programme with 29 key elements, most of
them relevant to tourism, particularly measures
with regard to energy efficiency and renewable
energy
*In September 2010,
the government announced a three-tiered
departure tax for aviation, with effect
from 1 January 2011
Ireland
*Fáilte Ireland,
the National Tourism Development Authority,
presented a strategy in 2008 to deal with
climate change, focusing on seven key measures
*Government incentives
include investments in energy saving technology,
and emissions-related Vehicle Registration
Tax
South Africa
*An overarching framework
for mitigation in sectors that contribute
emissions of GHG is set to be finalised
by the first quarter 2011
*Government incentives:
Renewable Electricity Feed In Tariff (REFIT)
was introduced in 2009; Vehicle Emission
Tax to be implemented in September 2010
To view the UNEP/OECD
report, Climate Change and Tourism Policy
in OECD Countries, please visit:
www.unep.fr/scp/publications or www.oecd.org/cfe/tourism
