The report, titled “Climate Change and Tourism Policy in OECD Countries,” finds that national emissions reduction strategies relating to tourism will not be sufficient to bring the sector in line with the international community's overall objective of reducing emissions by at least 50% by 2050.
It identifies how countries such as Austria, Germany, Ireland, and South Africa have shown that it is possible to identify current and future impacts and adaptation needs.
10 October 2011: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have a released a report titled “Climate Change and Tourism Policy in OECD Countries,” which warns that unless resource-efficient policies are developed, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the tourism industry will double over the next 25 years.
The report draws on the results of a survey of OECD member countries, and selected non-members. A key finding of the study is that national emissions reduction strategies relating to tourism will not be sufficient to bring the sector in line with the international community’s overall objective of reducing emissions by at least 50% by 2050. The report recommends the development of stronger climate change mitigation policies and incentives for the tourism sector.
The report also shows how ambitious mitigation pledges already in place mean the tourism industry can be a source of innovative solutions to climate change. It identifies how countries such as Austria, Germany, Ireland, and South Africa have shown that it is possible to identify current and future impacts and adaptation needs, and highlights measures taken by these countries to reduce GHG emissions from tourism activities. [UNEP Press Release] [Publication: Climate Change and Tourism Policy in OECD Countries] [UN Press Release]