Tourism

As one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries, tourism’s carbon footprint is an expanding component of global GHG emissions. A complete Life Cycle Assessment of global tourism conducted in 2018 found that between 2009 and 2013, tourism’s annual global carbon footprint increased from 3.9 to 4.5bn tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2-eq) emission and now accounts  for  8%  of global emissions. (The carbon footprint of global tourism, Manfred Lenzen et al, Nature Climate  Change 8, 522-528, 2018)  International  tourist arrivals have increased 300% over the past twenty-five years, with cultural tourism being one of the leading drivers. 

At the same time, cultural destinations, if appropriately managed through sustainable tourist strategies, can generate positive economic and social benefits for local communities. Tourism can raise visitors’ understanding of different history, cultures and environments and has the potential to promote empathy with communities on the frontlines of climate change. Tourism destinations have the possibility of demonstrating and publicising climate impacts and green  practices.

The Climate Heritage Network advocates for updating cultural tourism development and management strategies by incorporating climate resilient sustainable development principles into sustainable tourism models. It encourages monitoring and measuring the GHG emissions attributable to cultural tourism, including through Life Cycle Assessment, which look at the contributing service components of the cultural tourism industry, including access/transport; accommodation; food and beverage; and souvenirs, clothing and goods. At the same time, the CHN encourages attention to a just transition for communities, especially those in the global south, dependent on GHG intensive forms of tourism.

Climate Heritage Policy Priorities:  Engage with tourism stakeholders including the World Tourism Organization to emphasise sustainable tourism approaches that allow cultural destinations to generate positive economic and social benefits for local communities while reducing tourism’s carbon footprint. Create synergies with relevant cultural tourism stakeholders such as the Organization of World Heritage Cities and the European Cultural Tourism Network. Identify and promote good practices of lower-carbon itineraries, slow travel, and tourism as a ‘cultural and learning’ experience including via the Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards 2022 and the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards.

Engaging with tourism stakeholders to emphasise sustainable tourism approaches that allow cultural destinations to generate positive economic and social benefits for local communities while reducing tourism’s carbon footprint.