Travel Industry Responding to Climate Change

At the United Nations climate conference recently held, some 300 travel companies, tourism boards, hotel chains and countries made a commitment toward a shared plan to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030 and reach “net zero” by 2050. By signing the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, these signatories now have one year to submit a plan and disclose how they will achieve the goal as well as be transparent about their carbon emissions.

The companies signing the Declaration have declared a collective responsibility in setting and meeting their stated goals to address climate change in a positive and proactive manner.  It’s the first time this level of responsiveness to climate change has been agreed upon. It’s a major step in the right direction.

A few years ago, we began asking travel companies we do business with on behalf of our clients, how their companies were addressing climate change. Often we were met with a shoulder shrug. Today, when we ask travel partners about reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change, they are generally able to point to detailed plans their companies have outlined in moving forward proactively.