Decarbonizing tourism

Decarbonizing tourism: Would you pay US$11 for a carbon-free holiday?

Wednesday, 24 November, 2015

The damaging effects of CO2 emissions from tourism could eventually be eliminated if travelers paid just US$11 per trip, according to a new study published in the
Journal of Sustainable Tourism.

Global tourism is largely dependent on fossil fuel energy, and is a significant contributor to global climate change. The most recent estimates conclude that tourism, including transport, accommodation, and leisure activities contributed close to five per cent of total human-made emissions of CO2 world-wide. That is more than all but five countries of the world.

The study, Can tourism be part of the decarbonized global economy?, co-authored by researchers from the University of Waterloo (Canada), Lund University (Sweden), the University of Canterbury (New Zealand) and NHTV Breda University (Netherlands), recommends that the most effective strategy for the tourism industry to meet the United Nations recommended targets of reducing carbon emissions, involves not just targeted carbon offsets but also strategic energy saving and renewable energy initiatives within the industry.

According to the study, the decarbonization of global tourism requires significant investments in absolute terms – starting at just under than US$1 billion annually beginning in the 2020s. But given the tremendous size of this growing industry, the relative cost represents less than 0.1 per cent of the estimated global tourism economy in 2020 and 3.6 per cent in 2050. This includes the rising emissions trend in the sector.

Divided equally among all domestic and international trips that’s about an $11 cost per trip – basically the same price as many modest travel fees and taxes and in many cases far less.

Spending by tourists represents the largest voluntary transfer of wealth in the world. This spending is vital to the economies of many countries and regions and creates up to one in 11 jobs worldwide. “Tourism is how billions of people explore new places and experience new cultures and the natural wonders of this world every year,” said the report’s authors. “Tourism can be a force for immense good, but it must be done within the carbon limits being negotiated by world leaders at the UN climate summit in Paris.”

The study also looks at the risks of not taking action on climate change.

A dangerously warming world is not in the best interest of global tourism. Many of peoples’ favorite tourism destinations and activities are at risk to climate change, from the ski industry to tropical beaches and coral reefs, from iconic species to cultural heritage. Therefore investing in low-carbon tourism is really in the interests of both the tourism industry and travellers alike. “We have to ask ourselves, are we willing to pay less than the price of an extra checked bag to ensure future generations can enjoy many of the sights that inspire travellers today?”

As global leaders gather in Paris seeking a much-anticipated agreement to keep global warming to no more than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, there will be increasing pressure to reduce emissions and contribute to decarbonizing the global economy. Industries that do not will face reputational risks.

The study suggests that it is not peak oil that is a risk to future tourism development, but peak carbon. Importantly, the analysis shows that the tourism sector can be compatible with a decarbonized global economy, if governments and business leaders show collective leadership to make it happen.

Full details of paper:

Scott, Daniel; Gössling, Stefan; Hall, C. Michael & Peeters, Paul (2015). Can tourism be part of the decarbonized global economy?: The costs and risks of carbon reduction pathways. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09669582.2015.1107080

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