31 Jul Declaring a Climate Emergency for Tourism (and everyone else)

I declare a climate emergency that is impacting tourism, society, and our home planet.

The impacts of climate change on society are becoming more and more clear with each passing day. So too is the influence of climate change on the sustainability of tourism. I am committed to working to ensure tourism is a force for good in our world, and it is clear that climate change intersects with many of the challenges faced by tourism. The challenges of sustainability in the tourism system – environmental issues, preserving biodiversity, reducing waste and pollution, creating decent work and improving quality of life, social justice, equity, and inclusion (to name a few) – are all impacted by climate change. It is clear to me that climate change cannot be ignored.

I’ve signed up to Tourism Declares, an initiative that supports tourism businesses and individuals in declaring a climate emergency and taking purposeful action to reduce their Green House Gas emissions.

I commit to the following five actions:

1. Develop a personal ‘Climate Emergency Plan’ within the next 12 months, which sets out my intentions to reduce carbon emissions over the next decade.

2. Share my initial public declaration of our ‘Climate Emergency Plan’, and update on progress each year.

3. Stay current with the best science and accept current IPCC advice stating the need to cut global carbon emissions. I’ll ensure my personal ‘Climate Emergency Plan’ is designed to support achieving these emission reduction goals.

4. Encourage my collaborators, partners, colleagues, and community to make the same declaration; sharing best practices amongst peers; and actively participate in the Tourism Declares community

5. Advocate for change. I recognize the need for system change across the industry to accelerate a just transition towards carbon-free tourism.

Now is the time for action. Please consider also declaring at www.tourismdeclares.com, and follow on @tourismdeclares on Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin.