Travel Industry Called to Act on Climate Justice in Latest Report

Amid increasingly frequent and severe weather events, with 2023 being the hottest year on record, the report urges the travel industry to urgently coordinate resources and allyship for communities most at risk from climate change, especially those heavily dependent on tourism. It also calls for actions to make emissions more equitable, such as implementing a frequent flyer levy, noting that 1% of the world's population (mainly from wealthier countries) is responsible for over 50% of aviation emissions, which are projected to continue growing.

Despite a significant increase in climate action investments by travel companies, the report finds that published plans show little evidence of addressing climate risks to businesses or the communities they operate in, nor do they incorporate the perspectives of those communities. However, businesses collaborating with their suppliers and the wider community in vulnerable destinations are likely to emerge stronger, with resilient supply chains and enhanced reputations. Tourism leaders can discover new ways to collaborate on a large scale, coordinate support for local small businesses, and prioritize investments that fortify communities most dependent on tourism and most at risk from climate change.

Dr. Bobbie Chew Bigby, lead author of the report, said:

The report concludes with ten actionable ideas to scale collaborative efforts for climate justice in tourism, including:

The project team invites engagement from anyone interested in exploring how to rapidly bring these ten ideas to life.