Climate Justice and Tourism Workshop

Tourism is not only a victim of climate change, but it also contributes to its cause through its emissions, mainly from aviation and shipping (also known as bunker fuels emissions). However, no specific regulations cover these emissions from tourism. Some stakeholders argue that an international regulative framework for tackling emissions from bunker fuels could have a negative impact on tourism revenues that contribute to poverty alleviation in destinations of the Global South (so-called "spill-over effects").

Tourism critical groups from the Global South have concerns about this simple equation: tourism growth = poverty alleviation. A differentiated look at those destinations raises questions on the profit from tourism and the negative impact that tourism has on local communities.

At the end of the year, a new global climate deal will be finalised at COP 15, United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Copenhagen.

In order to protect the climate, emissions from tourism will also have to be taken into account within the regulative frameworks of UNFCCC (even though in the case of COP 15, only bunker fuels will be negotiated). Unfortunately, tackling emissions from tourism will not be enough to protect poor countries from the negative impact from tourism and climate change. Just mitigating emissions might even cause new problems. The UNWTO asks for the earliest introduction of “sustainable biofuels” for aviation. This carbon mitigation attempt will certainly cause bigger problems in poor countries e.g. endangering food security etc.

Decision-makers have to think about alternative and sustainable tourism concepts and link the problem of tourism and climate change to issues like gender justice, land rights, resources management, water consumption, indigenous people’s rights, child protection etc.

Under the umbrella of the People’s Action on Climate Change, ECOT is taking the opportunity to highlight the interrelation between tourism and climate change, and raise awareness about the negative impact on communities and about its resulting social problems.

ECOT calls for climate justice in tourism on policy level by challenging the UNWTO to develop climate protection policies by fulfilling the MDGs.

You are warmly invited to actively participate at the workshop. Your presence will be very valuable.