COP26 outcomes for tourism: Let the climate challenge begin!

Photo by Kiara Worth

With COP26 behind us, those in the travel and tourism industry now have a chance to turn their good intentions into measurable actions that count.

Accelerating efforts to slow – and hopefully reverse – global warming has been a welcome and necessary outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference. If November’s widespread news coverage and social media activity is anything to go by, there’s a growing sense of urgency around climate change and the conversation has entered the mainstream.

Tourism is coming under scrutiny like never before, with the now widely accepted fact that travel has a big impact on climate change and climate change has a big impact on travel – an industry that’s only sustainable if the places people want to visit maintain their allure. With one in 10 jobs linked to tourism around the world, the potential impact of climate change on tourism-dependent businesses, communities and livelihoods is immense.

As World Travel and Tourism Council vice chair (and Intrepid Travel co-founder) Darrell Wade stated at COP26: “Climate change presents an existential threat to all of humanity, but nowhere is this more profound than for the travel industry. Already we are seeing rising temperatures and sea levels. Left to continue, we will see the decimation of the destinations we travel to.”

Photo by David Marcu

Genuine Commitment

The Glasgow Declaration for Climate Action in Tourism, launched at COP26, is an encouraging move in the right direction because it recognizes that cohesive and urgent action is needed if the concepts of ‘responsible’ and ‘regenerative’ travel are to become anything other than nice ideas.

By signing the declaration, tourism businesses big and small have committed to cutting carbon emissions in half by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2050. And they have to be transparent about it – signatories have to share what they’re doing, how they’re doing it, and how well they’re reaching their climate-action goals.

By signing, they agree to the following:


• Measure and disclose all travel and tourism-related emissions

• Set and deliver targets aligned with climate science to accelerate tourism’s decarbonization

• Restore and protect ecosystems, supporting nature’s ability to draw down carbon, as well as safeguarding biodiversity, food security and water supply

• Work together to ensure climate-action plans are effective and coordinated

• Ensure resources are in place to action emission-reduction plans.

Want to sign up? Join here. Want to see who else has signed up? Take a look.

The declaration builds on the commitment many tourism organizations made earlier this year when they joined the Future of Tourism, a coalition established by six leading sustainable NGOs. As a content marketing agency for destinations and sustainable brands, GLP joined the Future of Tourism movement without hesitation, and we encourage others to do the same. Adhering to the movement’s guiding principles builds momentum and enables us to better work together towards mutually beneficial goals.

Photo by Greg Rosenke

Measuring Made Easier

There’s no doubt those signing the Glasgow Declaration have taken on a significant challenge, but several initiatives launched at COP26 show they’re not taking it on alone.

For starters, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) launched a Net Zero Roadmap to support the travel industry in tackling the climate crisis. With concrete guidelines, milestones and recommendations, the guide offers actionable steps tailored to the different sectors within the industry: accommodation, tour operators, aviation, cruise, and tourism intermediaries, such as online travel agencies and metasearch engines.

With the travel and tourism industry responsible for 8-10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, it has a key role to play if we are to achieve the UN’s ambitious but crucial climate goals.

Adventure travel company Intrepid Travel also stepped up during COP26 to launch a toolkit for tour operators to measure their carbon footprint, along with that of their supply chain.

Produced in partnership with decarbonization collective Tourism Declares, the guide is designed to empower tour operators to reduce their emissions in line with targets set by the United Nations – specifically, that global temperatures rise no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“We wanted to create a science-led tool to move the needle on decarbonization,” explained Intrepid’s Environmental Impact Specialist Dr Susanne Etti, who wrote the guide. “We cannot solve the climate crisis alone and this type of industry-wide collaboration is critical.”

Accurately measuring emissions is vital, Dr Etti said. “The critical step is measuring and then reducing your emissions. Without that baseline, it is extremely hard to understand the impact of any decarbonization actions.”

Photo by Vaida Tamošauskaitė

Travelers Care

With climate change already taking its toll, travelers are becoming more conscious of (and sensitive to) how and where they spend their travel dollars. Eco and ethical credentials are not just coming more into focus, travelers are increasingly putting them under the magnifying glass when they research, book and experience holidays and adventures.

As the WTTC points out in its Net Zero Roadmap, traveler expectations have shifted in line with their awareness of the climate crisis. Research from booking.com cited in that WTTC guide shows 60-80% of travelers plan to travel more sustainably in the future, and 70% want travel operators to offer more sustainable choices. In addition, 83% of travelers think sustainable travel is vital, and 61% say the global pandemic has made them want to travel more sustainably going forward.

If sustainability is a high priority in your tourism business, take the rising awareness among travelers as a sign that they want to know about you.

Storytelling is an effective way to let travelers in on how much value a travel brand places on sustainability. Done well, storytelling is an engaging content marketing strategy that invites people on a journey, allows them to discover that they resonate with your values, and organically builds your tribe. Authenticity matters to the modern traveler, and storytelling is an authentic way to connect with them.

About Joanna Tovia

Joanna Tovia is a freelance writer specializing in sustainable travel and social issues. Based in Australia’s Blue Mountains, Joanna has explored all seven continents for work and play. She is the author of Eco-Wise & Wealthy, a book about eco-friendly living, and writes regularly for magazines and eco-minded organizations. You can see more of her work at www.joannatovia.com