09 Oct Island Tourism and the Climate Crisis

Traveling to islands can take us to new worlds and allow us to experience completely different ways of life. Escaping to an island can be rejuvenating and inspiring.

Yet small island states face great challenges as we enter the middle decades of the 21^st century. In a recent annotated review [1], I highlighted a number of challenges, including habitat preservation, pollution issues, and, of course, climate change. Islands are facing some of the greatest climate crisis challenges – from more powerful hurricanes and cyclones to rising sea levels.

Exacerbating the challenges – some of the responses to the climate crisis, such as reducing air travel, have the potential to negatively impact the lives of islanders even as they adapt to the changing environment.

Finding just and fair responses to the challenges of the islands will require ‘big picture” thinking and cooperation from all countries, not just the island states. Tourism must play a role in finding these solutions.

1.            Day, J., Tourism, Hospitality, and Environmental Sustainability on the Small Island Developing States. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 2022. 59.