WORLDWIDE: A new report out today on Climate Justice highlights the role the travel industry must play in delivering “a just climate transition” to ensure no destination is “left behind”.
The report, Climate Justice in Tourism: an introductory guide, aims to encourage companies to take action so that vulnerable groups and communities are represented when it comes to actions on climate change.
The report’s findings are the independent conclusions of a collaboration between the Travel Foundation, the University of Waterloo, Tourism Cares, the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) and Cuidadores de Destinos.
A webinar talking about the report will take place next week.
Climate justice is defined as “recognising the unequal responsibility that certain groups bear in relation to greenhouse gas emissions”, placing “those who are most vulnerable to climate change, and who are often the least responsible for causing it” at the centre.
The report notes that although the Glasgow Declaration does not use the term climate justice, the principles are woven through the text and guidance. The main declaration text states that: “Climate change impacts are most severely felt by under-represented and vulnerable groups such as women, Indigenous communities, people living with disabilities, and small-island states. A just and inclusive transformation of tourism must prioritise their voices and needs, as well as those of younger generations who will otherwise pay the full price of our inaction.”
With 2023 the hottest year on record, the report calls on the travel industry to urgently coordinate resources for communities most at-risk from climate change, particularly those who rely heavily on tourism.
The report also calls for action to make emissions fairer, for example, through a frequent flyer levy. This levy is aimed at the 1 per cent of the world’s population (mostly from more wealthy countries) which are responsible for more than 50 per cent of aviation emissions.
Although the report says more travel companies are increasing investment in climate action, it has found a say-do gap across the industry.
According to the report, published plans show little evidence of action to address climate risks, either to businesses or the communities where they operate, “nor are they taking account of the perspectives of those communities.”
It also found that businesses working with suppliers and the wider community in vulnerable destinations are likely to emerge stronger, with resilient supply chains and hold better reputations.
Dr Bobbie Chew Bigby, lead author of the report, said: “Climate action is partial if it ignores the unequal impacts and challenges of the climate emergency on supply chains, places and communities – and may even lead to unintentional harms.
“And so – aside from the clear social, ethical and environmental imperatives – our report highlights the business benefits and significant opportunities for those taking a climate justice approach, as well as the mounting risks of not doing so. We hope this encourages action-oriented conversations, particularly involving communities at the sharp end that are not currently being heard.”
The World Travel and Tourism Council welcomed the report saying it “raised important questions” and “we must now collaborate, and partner with communities, to find answers and build a fairer future.”
Christopher Imbsen, VP Research & Sustainability, World Travel and Tourism Council said: “As our members look to future-proof their operations in places facing climate-related challenges, they have an opportunity to boost the resilience of vulnerable communities so that no one is left behind. This report has raised important questions about how we might approach this. We must now collaborate, and partner with communities, to find answers and build a fairer future.”
Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance said of the report: “Embracing climate justice within the hospitality industry is not just a moral imperative; it is a pathway to a truly sustainable future for all. This report by the Travel Foundation is a vital beacon, guiding us towards a more equitable and resilient world.”
As well as commenting on companies looking at how they hire within the local community and how they encourage volunteering within the communities they work in, the report offers 10 ideas “that could be rapidly brought to life” to scale collaborative action for climate justice in tourism.
These are as follows:
- Risk assessments and scenario planning: Coordinating climate risk assessments to identify vulnerable communities in business supply chains, and sharing findings to support community resilience.
- Funding mechanisms: A new global climate fund for travel and tourism which could support green transitions and resilience-building in vulnerable destinations.
- Destination-based collaborative pilots: Pilot projects focused on critical climate issues in key destinations, to enhance local resilience and reduce dependency on at-risk tourism activities.
- Partnerships with DMOs and NTAs: Working with Destination Management Organisations and National Tourism Administrations to connect with local suppliers and NGOs, promoting community-led climate action.
- Tourism first responders: Collaborating with humanitarian organisations and local leaders to support emergency responses by repurposing hotels, kitchens, resources and logistical expertise.
- Collaboration to support shared suppliers: Mapping local supply chain linkages and collaborating with competitors on shared supplier activities to streamline climate action requirements and provide enhanced tools and support for local suppliers.
- Fair emissions allocation: A carbon budget for international travel and fairly allocating it to host destinations to address disparities in emissions responsibilities.
- Fair regulation and incentives: New regulations and incentives that promote sustainable products without disproportionately impacting vulnerable destinations.
- Framework for investment in resilience: A green taxonomy for investment to direct funds to projects providing social and environmental ROI based on community needs.
- Destination resilience index: Creating a ranking mechanism to identify where tourism supports or undermines community resilience could guide future actions.
The document notes that “during the creation of the report, there have been calls for a more fundamental change in the mainstream tourism paradigm.
This would place full ownership and agency of the visitor economy with destination communities, remove dependencies, and reset relationships with outside (typically Global North) businesses and nations.
The ideas listed above may not go so far as to deliver such a paradigm shift, but they offer a practical illustration of the steps the industry can take in delivering a more just transition, one that could lead us towards the transformation of tourism for a more equitable future.”
The team behind the report has asked for anyone interested in exploring how any of these 10 ideas can be put into action to get in touch.
The full report and executive summary are free to access at climatejusticeintourism.org.
Photo by Bogomil Mihaylov on Unsplash