UNWTO: Urgent global call for commitment to a decade of climate action in tourism

In preparation for COP26, two information sessions were held today on the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. The Declaration, developed by a collaborative group of leading organizations, is an urgent call for all stakeholders to commit to a decade of climate action in tourism.
The signatories of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism are committing to act now and accelerate climate action to cut global tourism emissions by at least a half over the next decade and reach Net Zero emissions as soon as possible before 2050. In particular, each signatory will commit to delivering a concrete climate action plan, or updated plan, within 12 months of signing. Plans will be aligned with the proposed pathways of measurement, decarbonization, regeneration, collaboration, and financing that will accelerate tourism’s ability to transform.
During the events, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), VisitScotland, the Travel Foundation and Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency were joined by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, European Tourism Association, Inkaterra, Intrepid Group, Machu Picchu, Oregon Coast, Radisson Hotel Group, South Pacific Tourism Organization, The Long Run, and Travel Corporation (TTC). All were united in emphasizing the importance of defining a clear and consistent sector-wide message and approach to climate action in the coming decade, as well as encouraging organizations across all areas of tourism to demonstrate their public support for scaling up the sector’s response to the climate emergency by becoming signatories.
The Declaration will be officially launched at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November. The text is available from 21st September. Interested signatories can express their wish to join as launch partners from the beginning of October.
As the declaration states: “A just transition to Net Zero before 2050 will only be possible if tourism’s recovery accelerates the adoption of sustainable consumption and production, and redefines our future success to consider not only economic value but rather the regeneration of ecosystems, biodiversity, and communities.”
Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General UNWTO said: “We all recognize that tourism has an important role to play. It’s highly vulnerable to climate change and contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases while being well placed to contribute to adaptation. But no one organization can tackle this alone. That’s why we need to work urgently together within a consistent sector-wide approach to accelerate change and therefore I encourage tourism stakeholders to subscribe the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism.”
Jeremy Smith, Co-Founder, Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency: “Everyone in tourism has a role to play in addressing the climate emergency. It is time for major players across our sector to come together to accelerate climate action – whether that is airlines, hotels, cruise, ferry, train, or car companies through to operators and agents, government and institutional agencies, associations, consortia, donors, and financial institutions and academia. It is crucial we now all work together to transform tourism’s climate impact, competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience.”
The need for a globally consistent approach for climate action in tourism has been made clear, notably through research into CO2 emissions carried out by UNWTO/ITF and released at the UNFCCC COP25 in December 2019. This showed that transport-related emissions from tourism were forecast to increase by 25% by 2030 from 2016 levels, against the current ambition scenario.
In 2020, the One Planet Vision for a responsible recovery of the tourism sector was adopted with the aim of emerging from the COVID-19 crisis both stronger and more sustainable. Climate action is a central element of the Vision, which calls for monitoring and reporting CO2 emissions from tourism, promoting the introduction of science-based targets, accelerating the decarbonization of tourism operations, and engaging the tourism sector in carbon removal.
The Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism brings together the latest research and global expertise to galvanize climate action. It will be hosted within the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme’s website, supported by Recommended Actions for tourism stakeholders across the world to consider as part of their action planning, alongside other resources.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
- 1) UNWTO and Allianz partners advance commitment to safer, more responsibke sector
- 2) Greece's 'European Stork Village' marks return of migratory birds with festival
- 3) Greek PM: What is happening on Astypalea island is a green revolution
- 4) The Yukon joins growing UNWTO network of sustainable tourism observatories
27/06 17:57
27/06 17:54
Greece records 7,682 new Covid-19 cases and 12 fatalities on Monday
27/06 17:46
Prime Minister: Greece wants development based on investments, not on consumption
26/06 19:50
After movie gay sex scene, 150 cameras installed at Parthenon in Athens
26/06 18:54
Greece records 9.294 new Covid-19 cases and 13 fatalities on Sunday
26/06 13:42
First Hellenic Medical Diaspora World Congress held in Thessaloniki July 15-17
26/06 11:38
Hellenic Chamber of Hotels: Demand for Greece as tourist destination remains high
25/06 21:46
Russian and Belarusian flight ban in Greek airspace extended till September 22
23/06 19:54
Hellinikon Casino, Skaramaga Shipyards in fast-track bill by Greek government
23/06 18:48
Greece records 10,474 new Covid-19 cases and 17 fatalities on Thursday
23/06 18:05
Greek PM attends Young Presidents' Organization working lunch in Athens
23/06 17:38
2nd booster shots available for 30-59 age group in Greece as of Monday
22/06 22:38
Boston Youth Orchestra marks lower koilon at ancient Dodona theater of Greece
22/06 20:50
Greece approves 840-million-euros tourist project in Saronida of Attica
22/06 17:56
Greece records 10,528 new Covid-19 cases and nine fatalities on Wednesday
21/06 23:51
2022 Diversity and Inclusion Awards winners announced by IATA
21/06 00:46
ICAO to adopt long term aspirational goal to decarbonize aviation industry
21/06 00:08
21/06 00:04
4,832 new Covid-19 cases and 11 fatalities recorded in Greeece on Monday
20/06 21:56
20/06 15:16
173 passengers on the maiden voyage of the Cyprus to Greece ferry (video)
19/06 19:32
19/06 19:27
Ecumenical Patriarch honored at U.S. Embassy reception in Greek capital of Athens
19/06 16:20
First ferry linking Cyprus and Greece again after 21 years sails from Limassol port
19/06 13:11
19/06 09:16
US Ambassador to Athens invited to AHEPA World Cup 2022 Beach Volleyball Tournament
18/06 00:53
UNWTO welcomed 15 new Affiliate Members into network of tourism stakeholders
18/06 00:05
UNWTO and WHO to build coalition of health and tourism partners in Europe
17/06 11:50
UNWTO and Allianz partners advance commitment to safer, more responsibke sector
16/06 21:55
Eurogroup welcomes EC's plan to end to Greece’s enhanced surveillance
16/06 21:00
Media: Easing COVID measures to attarct tourists brings hike in Greece’s cases
16/06 20:06
ESM lauds Greece for reaching several important milestones in its reform agenda
16/06 18:14
St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Schenectady rewards Greek school students
16/06 17:17
Greece records 7,158 new Covid-19 cases and eight 8 fatalities on Thursday
16/06 13:07
15/06 20:11
42 small Greek islands allocated nearly 500 million euros for development
15/06 18:14
British Museum suggests 'sharing arrangement' of Parthenon Marbles with Greece
15/06 17:22
Greece records 9,288 Covid-19 cases and 15 fatalities on Wednesday
14/06 19:08
EU's top medicinal cannabis plant opening at Corinthia of Greece in July
14/06 18:50
Prime Minister: Greece aims at returning to investment grade by 2023
14/06 17:58
Greece records 8,083 Covid-19 cases and 12 fatalities on Tuesday
14/06 00:59
Agricultural Minister: There is no food security problem in Greece
14/06 00:01
13/06 22:51
A third of the world’s cruise vessels to visit Greece this year
13/06 17:00
13/06 13:04
12/06 00:27
Greece records 4,539 Covid-19 cases and 15 fatalities on Saturday
11/06 15:35
Platform to apply for rebates on electricity bills to go live in Greece on June 16
11/06 12:16
Passenger traffic from Attica ports for long weekend to peak on Saturday
10/06 23:54
Jeddah call to action: UNWTO sets path towards new tourism sector governance
10/06 23:42
Bogotá in Colombia joins the UNWTO Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories
10/06 23:19
IATA: EU Emissions Trading Amendment impedes global climate change cooperation
10/06 09:12
Olympians & International Swimming Stars in the Authentic Marathon Swim
09/06 23:26
SFRC approves resolution marking enduring United States-Greece partnership
09/06 23:23
Greece records 4,500 Covid-19 infections and nine fatalities in Greece on Thursday
09/06 23:19
Robert McCabe exhibition, Greece: An Enchanted Land in NY until July 7
09/06 17:12
09/06 00:47
Athens Pride Festival 2022 to continue its celebrations through June 18
09/06 00:30
UNWTO Executive Council looks beyond tourism sector recovery
08/06 23:34
Greek city of Kalamata's International Dance Festival tickets go on sale
08/06 20:37
Odessa Classics music festival to take place in Thessaloniki due to the Ukraine war
08/06 20:21
Qatar Airways launches Doha-Santorini island flights and doubles Athens routes
08/06 17:29
Greece records 4,496 Covid-19 cases and 13 fatalities on Wednesday
08/06 00:22
IATA: Drop in global air cargo demand in line with expectations
07/06 22:18
Greek Finance Ministry proposes abolition of luxury tax on fur and silver sectors
07/06 21:24
Aegean Airways carried over 1 million passengers at start of new summer season
07/06 20:22
Media report: Greece counting on tourists for big rebound during Covid-19 pandemic
07/06 18:27
5,610 Covid-19 cases and 19 fatalities recorded in Greece on Tuesday
07/06 11:11
Navarino Challenge Awarded as “Best Health & Wellness Event in Greece”
06/06 22:35
PM opens Posidonia: Greek shipping must meet challenge of 'green' transition
06/06 21:40
Archbishop of America attends the Greek Independence Day Gala in NY
06/06 20:48
Media: Enthusiastic Return to 5th Avenue for New York’s Greek Independence Parade
06/06 18:52
06/06 17:44
2,501 Covid-19 cases and 10 fatalities recorded in Greece on Monday
06/06 14:11
Beach Volley Ios 2022 championship organized on island from June 29 to July 2
04/06 22:34
Aegean Messinia Pro-Am golf event from September 14th to 17th 2022
04/06 18:30
Greece: 3,313 Covid-19 cases and 15 fatalities recorded in Greece on Saturday
04/06 13:47
Greece's 'European Stork Village' marks return of migratory birds with festival
04/06 09:03
Deputy Foreign Minister to attend Greek Independence Day parade in NYC
04/06 00:32
Jobs, recovery, sustainability: EU tourism chiefs meet as sector restarts
04/06 00:25
03/06 22:13
American tourist charged 600 euros for crab in Mykonos island going to court
03/06 01:14
Former US VP Dan Quayle savors Greek seafood in island of Mykonos (video)
03/06 01:04
The Exhibition of Adult Painting organized in Marousi suburb of Athens
02/06 22:34
Greek PM: What is happening on Astypalea island is a green revolution
02/06 21:55
Celebrity Cruises launches new Greek shore excursions collection
02/06 21:43
02/06 21:40
IATA launches MBA in aviation sector with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
02/06 19:10
02/06 18:49
UNWTO champions tourism for a healthy planet at Stockholm +50 conference
02/06 18:00
EU greenlights dispatch of 200 firefighters on standby in Greece
02/06 17:53
3,769 Covid-19 cases and nine fatalities recorded in Greece on Thursday
02/06 01:23
IOBE: Tourism will be crucial for business expectations in Greece in coming months
02/06 01:19
Nearly 885,000 passengers travelled to and from Larnaka and Pafos airports in May
01/06 22:58
Greece among top-5 countries with best value for money holidays for Brits in 2022
01/06 20:07
Greek and Malaysian ministers discuss promoting mutual exports in Athens
01/06 19:44
Directions clarify where masks are still required in Greece as of June 1
01/06 18:31
Syntagma Square’s new look to be ready in Greek capital of Athens by mid-June
01/06 17:17
4,026 Covid-19 cases and nine fatalities recorded in Greece on Wednesday
01/06 17:11
Greek Foreign Minister hosts lunch for outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Athens
Greece records 7,682 new Covid-19 cases and 12 fatalities on Monday
After movie gay sex scene, 150 cameras installed at Parthenon in Athens
Prime Minister: Greece wants development based on investments, not on consumption
Greece records 9.294 new Covid-19 cases and 13 fatalities on Sunday
Hellenic Chamber of Hotels: Demand for Greece as tourist destination remains high
First Hellenic Medical Diaspora World Congress held in Thessaloniki July 15-17
Greece records 10,474 new Covid-19 cases and 17 fatalities on Thursday
Hellinikon Casino, Skaramaga Shipyards in fast-track bill by Greek government
Russian and Belarusian flight ban in Greek airspace extended till September 22
German federal police step up again patrols at Greek airports for illegal migrants
Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Al Thani's ultra-luxury yacht in Greek island of Skiathos
Update on proposed recapitalisation plan for Thomas Cook at £ 900 million
First museum education dog in Greece as Cretan summer camp assistant
Cook’s Club opens latest hotel in the heart of Greek island of Rhodes
Symposium organized in Greek island of Lesvos to honor late law professor
Greek government: Higher collection rate for property tax offsets revenue loss
Greece's Paros to become first plastic waste-free island in Mediterranean
Media report: Virtual advisors to replace humans in Greek banks
Fire near national highway at Lykovrisi bridge near Athens partially under control
Police operation in central Athens Exarchia district to end 4 building squats
New tender by central government for Athens and Thessaloniki bus systems
Applications now available for FAITH Executive Education Program in US
Sports Tourism: 81-year-old Greek windsurfer enters Guinness Records