DORRIS IMINZA MBAJA

GB1/62063/22

BECO 331

CAT II

1. Discuss ways in which the tourism industry contributor to climate change:

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, generating trillions of dollars annually and
employing millions of people. However, its rapid growth and increasing demand have significant
environmental consequences, particularly in terms of climate change. The industry’s carbon footprint is
largely driven by transportation, energy consumption, land use, and waste generation. The tourism
industry significantly contributes to climate change in various ways, which include;

Transportation Emissions

Air travel is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. According to some estimates; Aviation
accounts for about 0.3% of global carbon emission. A single long-haul flight emits tons of CO₂ per
passenger.

Cruise ships: These ships emit large amounts of CO₂, sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter (PM),
leading to ocean acidification and respiratory diseases. A single cruise ship passenger can produce three
times more CO₂ emissions than a passenger on a long-haul flight.

Car travel: increased use of private cars for tourism, especially in places with limited public transportation
options further contributes to emissions.

Energy Consumption

Accommodation; Hotels, resorts and other Accommodations consumes larger amounts of energy for
heating, cooling, lighting and other amenities. Many resorts in popular tourist destinations rely heavily on
energy intensive services to meet the demands of their guests

Attractions; many tourists attractions e.g. parks and museums require substantial energy to operate
contributing to avoid greenhouse gas Emissions.
 Resource Depletion

Water usage: Tourism especially destinations that are already water stressed places a massive burden on
local water supplies. Hotels, resorts and even tourists themselves consume significant amount of water for
personal use, pools, irrigations and sanitations. Thus, can exacerbate water scarcity in fragile regions.

Waste generation; Tourism generates a large amount of waste including plastic, food waste and sewage
which if not properly managed can lead to pollution. Improper waste disposal can to contamination of
land and water resources.

Deforestation and Habitat loss

Infrastructure Development; the development of tourist infrastructure such as hotels, airports and roads,
often leads to deforestation and habitat destructions, particularly in sensitives eco-systems like rain forests
and costal areas. These distracts locals’ biodiversity and reduces the ability of natural ecosystems to act as
carbon sinks.

Overtourism and Environmental Degradations

Coral reef damage; in destinations like tropical island, coral reef suffers from the combine effects of mass
tourism and climate change. Diverse, boat anchors and pollution from tourism can damage delicate choral
reef ecosystems which are important for marine life and carbon sequestration.

Overuse of natural resources; some popular destinations suffer from overexploitation of resources like
forests, beaches, and wildlife. This can cause irreversible damage to ecosystems that could help mitigate
climate change.

Increased Carbon Footprint of Food and Goods:

Food Transport: The global nature of the tourism industry means that food and goods are often
transported across long distances, increasing carbon emissions from transportation.

Agriculture Impact: The high demand for foreign food in tourist areas can lead to unsustainable
agricultural practices that contribute to climate change.

Carbon Offsetting Challenges:

While some tourism companies and travelers engage in carbon offset programs to mitigate their
emissions, these initiatives often face criticism for being ineffective or insufficient.

Not all carbon offset programs result in tangible, verifiable emission reductions, and they can sometimes
be used as an excuse to continue emitting at unsustainable levels.
 2. Discuss the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism.

The Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism is a global initiative launched at the UN
Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in November 2021. It aims to accelerate climate action
in the tourism sector by encouraging stakeholders to commit to reducing carbon emissions and achieving
net zero emissions by 2050.

Key Commitments

Organizations signing the Glasgow Declaration pledge to follow five pathways to climate action, which
include:

Measure – Assess and disclose carbon emissions related to tourism activities.

Decarbonize – Set and implement targets to cut emissions in line with global climate goals.

Regenerate – Support ecosystem restoration and protect biodiversity.

Collaborate – Work with governments, businesses, and communities for sustainable tourism.

Finance – Secure funding and investment for climate action initiatives.

The declaration is led by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), along with partners
like the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), VisitScotland, the Travel Foundation, and Tourism
Declares a Climate Emergency. Hundreds of tourism organizations, including destinations, businesses,
and NGOs, have signed it.

Importance

Tourism contributes to about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from transport,
accommodation, and activities.

The sector is vulnerable to climate change, with rising sea levels, extreme weather, and biodiversity loss
affecting destinations.

Aligning tourism with the Paris Agreement helps protect natural and cultural heritage while ensuring
long-term sustainability.
 Challenges

Achieving net zero requires major shifts in transportation (especially aviation), infrastructure, and tourism
operations.

Financial and technical support is needed for developing nations and small businesses in tourism.

The Glasgow Declaration is a milestone in making tourism a more sustainable industry, but its success
depends on strong implementation and collaboration among global stakeholders.

3. Explain the commitments that signatory countries to the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action
in Tourism are required to implement.

(a) Achieving Net-Zero Emissions by 2050:

Signatory countries are committed to ensuring that their tourism sector transitions to net-zero greenhouse
gas emissions by 2050, aligning with the global target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C in accordance
with the Paris Agreement.

(b) Developing National Climate Action Plans:

Countries are expected to create national action plans for climate action in tourism to outline how they
will reduce emissions and promote sustainable practices.

(c) Monitoring and Reporting Emissions:

Signatories must ensure that emissions are measured, monitored, and reported consistently within the
tourism sector.

This involves establishing clear systems for collecting data on tourism-related emissions and publicly
reporting progress.

(d) Supporting a Just Transition:

A commitment to ensuring a just transition for workers and communities affected by the shift to a more
sustainable tourism sector.

This includes providing support to enterprises and workers that may be economically impacted by climate
actions and creating green jobs within tourism.

(e) Promoting Sustainable Tourism Practices:

This includes supporting businesses in adopting energy-efficient technologies, reducing waste, conserving
water, and ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources.

(f) Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement:

The declaration calls for collaboration between governments, businesses, local communities, and other
stakeholders in the tourism value chain.

(g) Integrating Climate Action into Tourism Policies:

Countries are encouraged to integrate climate action into their national tourism policies and strategies.

This includes aligning tourism planning with climate goals, fostering sustainable tourism development,
and ensuring that tourism growth does not undermine environmental and social sustainability.

(h) Supporting Innovation and Research:

Signatories are encouraged to support innovation and research in the tourism sector that helps reduce
emissions and improve sustainability.

This includes investing in new technologies, practices, and models that can lead to more sustainable and
climate-resilient tourism experiences.

(i) Promoting Awareness and Advocacy:

Countries are tasked with raising awareness of the importance of climate action in tourism and advocating
for strong climate policies at the national and international levels.