Climate Action through Regeneration
This white paper outlines practical examples, available support, and clear action steps so that travel businesses can take action on climate today.
The 2022 International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report showed that scientific evidence unequivocally indicates that climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet, and that “any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a livable future. Tourism, the second fastest growing industry in the world in 2019, is estimated to be responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
To achieve goals set forth in the Paris Climate Agreement, the travel sector must implement far-reaching and rapid efforts to reduce emissions, restore and protect nature, and support local communities as they adapt and build resilience to climate impacts. The Glasgow Declaration for Tourism Climate Action has identified regeneration as one of five shared pathways for the industry, and there is untapped potential for tourism to embrace regenerative business models that address both the causes and consequences of climate change by simultaneously supporting the resilience of communities and protecting natural ecosystems.
Citation: King, C., Burns, O. (2022). Climate Action through Regeneration: Unlocking the Power of Communities and Nature through Tourism. Washington, D.C., USA and Edinburgh, Scotland, UK: Regenerative Travel, Solimar International, and University of Edinburgh.