30 Jun Decarbonizing Tourism

The challenge of decarbonizing hospitality is one of the great challenges our industry faces. It is important that we consider the actions that will have the greatest impact on our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, the things we talk about most frequently are not the things that have the biggest impact. Here are just a few steps to decarbonizing tourism – the most commonly discussed first, the most impactful last.

Green operations: So much of our conversation focuses on improving our energy efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint through our ongoing operations. These are important tasks, and many operations are reporting significant improvements as they commit to ongoing environmental management. We need to double down on this so it becomes the standard operating practice.

Build it right: Less frequently discussed is the need to build right in the first place. Buildings are one of the significant sources of carbon, and hotels need to be built in ways that support the environment. The decisions made when a hotel is built – or when it is refurbished – have an impact over the life of the property. It is great that many hotels are now built to LEED standards. As we move forward, it is critical that regenerative architectural and building principles. Regenerative approaches don’t just minimize carbon – they reduce it! With this regenerative approach, we can truly start to restore the ecosystem.

Change the system – Push the supply chain: Perhaps the least discussed but most impactful actions we can take is to pressure our (energy) suppliers to adopt renewable energy generation. Changing our energy supply from fossil fuel to renewables is critical, and the lodging industry is an important customer group to these suppliers. Let’s make sure our voices – demanding cleaner energy sources –  are heard by energy suppliers.

A version of this post was first posted HN World Panel Forum on Sustainable Hospitality. Check out the forum for some great insights from thought leaders in sustainable tourism.