12 May 2010: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the French Government have announced the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism, which is aimed at making the tourism industry environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. The Partnership is designed to identify and replicate successful and sustainable initiatives.
According to UNEP, the Partnership will support implementation of policy recommendations and lessons learned in integrating sustainability in tourism, and develop new tools and projects where no existing solution has been found. The partnership initially will be led by France, and later be housed at UNEP’s Paris-based Division of Technology, Industry and Economics.
The new entity will focus on policy, projects, tools and networks for all tourism stakeholders at all levels, by addressing and working on: policy frameworks; climate change; environment and biodiversity; poverty alleviation; cultural and natural heritage; private sector sustainable practices; and finance and investment. The initiative was announced during the 18th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 18), which is meeting in New York, US, from 3-14 May 2010. [UNEP Press Release]