Global Tourism Sector Commits to Climate Action

At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, more than 50 governments signed a UN declaration to make global tourism more climate friendly. Public and private sector leaders acknowledged the significant impact of climate change on tourism and emphasized the sector's potential to support climate adaptation and regeneration strategies.

For the first time, the climate summit featured a Tourism Day, attended by over 700 stakeholders, along with a Ministerial Meeting focused on aligning tourism policies with national climate goals. “This meeting marks a turning point, where ambition meets action, and vision transforms into commitment. At COP29, the global tourism sector made its commitment to positive transformation for a better future for our planet,” said Zurab Pololikashvili, Tourism Secretary General, UN.

Roundtable discussions brought together experts from academia, policymaking, and the private sector to raise the climate ambitions of the tourism sector. Carbon measurement was discussed at four levels: globally, to assess the scale of the challenge; nationally, to inform policies and align them with climate goals; at the business level, to ensure accountability for change; and at the product labelling level, to empower consumers to make informed, sustainable choices.

Experts also addressed challenges such as the limitations of technology-driven solutions, the need for innovative business models, and the critical role of behavior change. Discussions on adaptation highlighted the tourism industry's potential to foster climate adaptation and regeneration strategies, underscoring the need for scalable financing mechanisms, innovative financial instruments, and collaborative approaches.

Several achievements were made during the event. First, 52 governments signed the Declaration for Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism, pledging to address tourism in their climate plans, such as their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The next update of NDCs is due in February.

The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance introduced a new framework for measuring and reporting key data, including greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, waste, and energy usage across the sector. The alliance, representing 55,000 hotels with over 7 million rooms, includes major brands like Accor, Hilton, and Marriott. "We are an industry with a vested interest in protecting each destination. We need to have a conversation about playing a bigger role," said Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.

In line with sectoral engagement efforts, 58 new signatories joined the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, including Destination Canada and the European Association of Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafés (HOTREC). The Glasgow Declaration is a voluntary commitment to support national climate goals and implement integrated climate mitigation and adaptation approaches. With over 900 signatories, it has developed 370 action plans, of which 92% include decarbonization actions, 73% focus on biodiversity protection, and 41% involve climate adaptation strategies.

Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director, UN Tourism, presented the UN Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism. This tool helps advance the sector's climate action goals by tracking environmental data, such as GHG emissions and energy use. Climate Finance Innovation was also addressed in a keynote presentation.

Finally, to lay the foundation for a global coordination mechanism and partnership platform, UN Tourism and the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan signed a Letter of Intent to establish a framework. This partnership will continue through COP30 in Belem, Brazil, in 2025, supporting the transformation of the tourism sector into a low-carbon, sustainable, and resilient future.

The global tourism industry accounts for 3% of global GDP and 8.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Target 8.9 aims to implement policies that promote sustainable tourism, create jobs, and support local culture and products. The importance of sustainable tourism is also highlighted in SDG Target 14.7, which aims to increase the economic benefits for Small Island Developing States and least developed countries.