Climate change poses complex challenges and addressing these requires increasing integration across sectoral policy domains. A systematic assessment of global tourism and climate change policy coherence in 61 countries, by an international team including Daniel Scott, found low integration, including obvious conflicts on future emissions. Considering tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing industries globally that is responsible for an estimated 8% of global emissions (higher in many countries) and that climate change is recognised as one of the greatest sustainable tourism challenges in this century, limited evidence of policy integration is astonishing. At this point, tourism is mainly perceived as a vulnerable sector that requires adaptation, but policies that address the tourism’s carbon intensity are less common, despite the sector’s substantive carbon footprint. Overcoming the limited engagement between climate and tourism departments is fundamental for tourism to be part of the decarbonized and climate resilient economy of mid-century.
Tourism and climate change: Evaluating the extent of policy integration
Summary by: Susanne Becken
Original research by:
Daniel Scott, Johanna Loehr, Susanne Becken, Emma Whittlesea
Published by: Journal of Sustainable Tourism • 01.04.20