During COP 25, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa addressed the urgency of change in favour of climate, highlighting that the travel and tourism sector has to transform, in line with today’s developments, based on its crucial economic and social benefits.
Although the travel and tourism industry was responsible for the 10.4% of the global Gross Domestic Product in 2018, it also generates about 8% of the global GHG emissions that play a damaging role in the climate change.
Patricia Espinosa comments on the opportunities arising when travelling and exploring the world, adding that “the tourism industry has created jobs, most significantly in developing countries, offering people financial freedom. It is truly a global economic powerhouse.”
Yet, despite the advantages, Mrs Espinosa highlights that
With this sort of success, why should you change what you have been doing? Frankly, because you have no choice. None of us does.
The climate change needs all parties globally, from the people, governments and especially corporations to follow a different path.
If some companies and industries fail to adjust to this new world, they will fail to exist.
In the meantime, at the opening remarks of the event, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) President and Chief Executive Officer, Gloria Guevara, said the message is already clear to her organization’s members, and climate and environment are “top priority.”
The WTTC is following the sector’s goal on being climate-neutral by 2050, following the steps of the UN Climate Change and other companies. Last year, WTTC signed up to the United Nations Climate Neutral Now initiative with a pledge to measure its greenhouse gas emissions, reduce what it can and offset the rest, while promoting the same climate-friendly regimen to its 150 members worldwide.
