THE World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has reiterated the global travel sector’s commitment to sustainability, overnight setting an ambition for climate neutrality by 2050 through science-based targets, energy efficiency measures and initiatives to reduce waste and plastics use.
The plan was unveiled in the midst of a WTTC Climate Action event during the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
“As one of the world’s largest industrial sectors, travel and tourism supports one in 10 jobs around the world and contributes 10.4% of global GDP,” said WTTC CEO, Gloria Guevara.
“However it is also responsible for 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions…this underpins WTTC’s commitment to unify the sector in order to move faster and make travel & tourism part of the solution,” she said.
WTTC has also spearheaded the creation of a Sustainable Travel & Tourism Partner program, to recognise companies that are taking action in this area.
A Sustainability Knowledge Hub initiative will allow the industry to share best practice, she noted.
Other recent WTTC events included the first global Climate & Environment Action Forum during UN Climate Week in New York last Sep, as well as a Leadership Forum on Sustainability in Travel & Tourism at Harvard University.
“We have the power to drive real change and are committed to this issue,” Guevara said.
“Many of our members are already champions in sustainable business practice, and WTTC has the opportunity to convene the industry so we can move faster, contribute and address the significant environmental sustainability challenges facing our world,” she added.
MEANWHILE the Australian travel sector will gather to discuss the issue next Apr at the second annual Travel Daily Sustainability Summit, with details of the agenda and ticket sales set to open next week.
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Source: traveldaily