Climate Sense

[

] 47

mpacts

and

mplications

limate

hange

and

ariability

technological efficiencies were achieved for all transport modes, accom-

modations and activities 38 per cent lower emissions would be generated.

In the case of reducing energy use by a combination of transport modal

shifts, shifts to shorter haul destinations and increasing average length of

stay emissions could be reduced by 44 per cent. Under the most effective

mitigation projection, using a combination of technological efficiencies

and energy reduction, the ‘business-as-usual’ scenario emissions of 2035

could be reduced by 68 per cent.

Mitigating the contribution of tourism to climate change is a

pervasive issue that is addressed by many of the programmes and

initiatives supported by the UNWTO. For instance, UNWTO coor-

dinates the Hotel Energy Solutions project (former EETI). The

programme seeks to deliver training, information and technical

support to help small and medium size hotels across the 27 UE

countries increase their energy efficiency and use of renewable

energy. The project aims to increase energy efficiency by 20 per

cent and use of renewable energy by 10 per cent.

Adaptation in the tourism sector

In order to minimize the risk and to capitalize upon the opportunities

offered by climate change, all tourism businesses and destinations

will need to adapt in an economically, socially and environmentally

sustainable manner. At the Second International Conference on

Climate Change and Tourism in Davos, Switzerland in 2007, special

sessions were dedicated to climate change adaptation in different

types of vulnerable destinations including: coasts, islands, moun-

tain regions and nature-based destinations. The Davos Declaration

acknowledges the need to adapt to changing climate conditions and

calls for specific actions by different tourism stakeholders.

Although the capacity of the tourism sector to adapt to climate change

is relatively high due to its dynamic nature, adaptive capacity varies

substantially both within and between stakeholder groups – depend-

ing on financial resources, technical knowledge and capacity to move.

Due to their relative freedom to avoid destinations impacted by climate

change, or to shift the timing of travel to avoid unfavourable climate

conditions, tourists have the greatest adaptive capacity. Large tour opera-

tors, who do not own the infrastructure, are in a better position to adapt

to changes at destinations because they can respond to clients demand

and provide information to influence clients’ travel choices. Suppliers

of tourism services and tourism operators at specific destinations have

less adaptive capacity. On the other hand, destination communities and

tourism operators with large investments in immobile capital assets have

the least adaptive capacity.

The most vulnerable destinations will require assistance to adapt.

UNWTO particularly supports the Least Developed Countries and Small

Island Developing States (SIDS) schemes. In these locations persist-

ent poverty and environmental needs are expected to exacerbate the

adverse consequences of climate change, and adaptive capacity is rela-

tively low due to limited financial resources and technical knowledge.

Unfortunately, such areas are also often highly dependent on tourism. In

order to implement adaptationmeasures and disseminate good practices,

UNWTO is assisting the integration of tourism as a means of economic

diversification into national adaptation strategies through a series of pilot

projects. The pilot projects are expected to deliver replicable outputs,

as SIDS and other coastal destinations have similar climate and tourism

challenges – such us shoreline and beach erosion, reduced water avail-

ability, interrupted supply chain, coral bleaching and physical damage

to property due to extreme climatic events. The aim is to enhance the

resilience of the tourism sector to climate change by demonstrating adap-

tation initiatives – initiatives that will enhance the ability of

operators and tourism dependent communities to respond

to these challenges.

Overview of the relationship between climate

and tourism

Our lifestyles, economies, health and social well-being

are all affected by climate change – and all nations

and economic sectors will have to face the challenges

it represents. Tourism is no exception, indeed, it is

a highly climate-sensitive economic sector due to its

close connections to the environment and climate itself.

However, tourism not only suffers the effects of climate

change, but also contributes to it through the emission

of greenhouse gases – mainly CO

– to the atmosphere.

This demands adaptation and mitigation strategies

aimed at preventing and adapting tourism destinations

to climate change consequences, as well as at reducing

the contribution of the tourism sector to this phenom-

enon. Using a broad range of technological, educational

and managerial measures the tourism sector has been

adapting its operations to climate zones worldwide –

however, much more needs still to be done.

The importance of identifying measures to address

climate change should not however jeopardize the

tourism sector’s role in contributing to the achievement

of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals,

especially poverty alleviation.

A meaningful and effec-

tive response to the challenge of climate change must be

integrated within the broader agenda of sustainable devel-

opment.

These are the main principles inspiring the ‘Davos

Declaration Process’ promoted by UNWTO and aimed

at actively involving tourism stakeholders in the iden-

tification and application of adequate responses to the

challenges of climate change.

Coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef

Image: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authorities