ABSTRACT
Tourism is one of ten priority sectors in UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative, investing in sustainable technologies and eco-efficiency for green growth (Pratt et al. 2011). Tourism leaders at the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June 2012 profiled industry actions for green growth. The challenges of green growth transformation in the travel and tourism industry include lower carbon, resource efficiency, conservation and engaging multiple sectors (Gössling et al. 2009; Gössling et al. 2012; Lipman et al. 2012; Peeters et al. 2009; Scott and Becken 2010). Climate change governance by government and the tourism industry is crucial for this goal. The tourism industry is vulnerable to the biophysical impacts of climate change on key destinations (e.g. coral bleaching of reefs, reduced snow cover, water scarcity, natural disasters), and contributes to global carbon emissions from aviation, accommodation and other activities (Becken and Hay 2012; Jones and Phillips 2011; Patterson et al. 2006; Scott 2011; Scott et al. 2012a;Scott et al ., 2012b; STCRC 2009; TTF 2009; WTTC 2013b; Zeppel 2011). However, apart from side events and a statement on emissions from air transport at the COP-16 meeting in Mexico (UNWTO 2010), the tourism sector has not played a major role in global climate change negotiations. This chapter reviews climate change governance by global tourism agencies that promote carbon mitigation for green growth. ‘Mitigation of climate change involves taking actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to enhance carbon sinks’ (STCRC 2009: 5). Carbon mitigation strategies for tourism enterprises and destinations mainly focus on eco-efficiency actions in energy, water and waste management. Renewable energy, green power, biofuels, eco-certification and carbon offsetting are other areas. Climate change policies, strategies and programmes by government and industry tourism organisations thus have a key role to play in the emerging green economy. There is a growing body of knowledge about the impacts of climate change on a range of tourism destinations, but limited research on climate change tourism governance. This chapter reviews climate change governance in tourism by assessing the policy responses of global tourism agencies and their interactions with environmental and other agencies. It reviews climate change policies and reports on the corporate websites of key agencies.
