From the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism [1] to the Net Zero Roadmap for Travel & Tourism [2], the industry is taking on the decarbonisation challenge and giving itself net zero toolboxes. We have officially entered the Decade of Decarbonisation.

Has the industry equally and forcefully entered the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration [3]? From forest to farmlands, mountains, grasslands and urban environment, nature and ecosystem services are at the center of hospitality processes providing food, filtering water and air and regulating heat in the cities. The industry monetizes the natural beauty of destinations and regularly damages or destroys habitats, sealing ground with infrastructure development. Hospitality developments can be done differently of course, and existing hospitality businesses can prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems, paying back into the upkeep and restoration.

Decarbonisation and biodiversity restoration are two sides of the same coin, but are we acting accordingly?

For the year ahead, what are three actions you recommend the industry to implement which have a dual goal of tackling climate change and biodiversity loss?

Sources

[1] One Planet (2021). Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/programmes/sustainable-tourism/glasgow-declaration

[2] WTTC (2021). A Net Zero Roadpamp for Travel & Tourism. World Travel and Tourism Council & UNEP https://wttc.org/Portals/0/Documents/Reports/2021/WTTC_Net_Zero_Roadmap.pdf

[3] UNEP & FAO (2021). Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030. https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/

Frauke  Fischer
Frauke Fischer
Founder, Agentur Auf!

First of all: It's great that you have taken up this topic so prominently! Thank you for that.Biodiversity and ecosystem services are not only victims of man-made climate change, they offer on the other hand perfect so-called nature-based-solutions to counteract it. Ecosystems store huge amounts of carbon and via photosynthesis turn it into building materials (like timber), (plant) food, coastal protection systems (like mangroves) and much more. If not only the tourism sector, but all economic sectors would understand this better, if we finally develop functioning mechanisms for the valorization of biodiversity and ecosystem services, then we will also be able to meet the challenges of the climate catastrophe.

View all 21 views in this viewpoint