Ecumenical Coalition On Tourism

CLIMATECHANGEANDTOURISM:

CALLFORACTIONBYCIVILSOCIETYGROUPS
AStatementbytheEcumenicalCoalitionOnTourism(ECOT),endorsedbyAcciperunTurisme Responsible(ATR),AlbaSud,AlternativeTourismGroup(ATG),AsianMuslimActionNetwork, AsianResourceFoundation,CaritasAsia,ChristianConferenceofAsia,CoastalDevelopment Partnership(CDP),CommissiononJustice,PeaceandCreationofNationalCouncilofChurches India(NCCI),Echoway,EQUATIONS,ImaginePeace,KABANItheOtherDirection,Korea AnabaptistCentre,MangroveActionProject(MAP),PacificConferenceofChurches(PCC), PeaceforLife(PfL),ChristianChurchofBali(GKPB),SekolahTinggiIlmuManajemenDhyana Pura(STIMDPSchoolofAdvancedScientificManagement).
ClimateJusticeandTourism Peopleareattheheartofthiscalltoaction.Localcommunitiesindevelopingsocietieswhohave contributedleasttoglobalwarmingwillbeamongthefirsttosufferitsdevastatingconsequences.Some arealreadyexperiencingthem. Aswiththeoverallmodelofdevelopment,climatechangeillustratesthegrowingurgencyforaparadigm shiftinthetourismindustry,asprawlingindustryeverinsearchofnewdestinations,includingsometo replacethosethreatenedordisappearingduetoglobalwarming!Inordertomeetthechallengeof ensuringthatglobalwarmingremainsbelowthedangerousthresholdof2degreesCentigrade,every nation,everyindustrysectorandeveryhumanbeingiscalledtotakeonafairshareofthemitigation burden.Thiscallisdirectedtothetourismindustrytoo. Greenhousegasemissionscontributionsfromtourism Theglobaltourismindustryisasignificantcontributortoclimatechange.However,itshouldbenotedthat just2%oftheworldspopulationactivelytakespartinairpassengertransport 1 ,contributingto tourismsshareofglobalwarmingwhichisupto12.5%(ifnonCO2effectsaretakenintoaccount) 2 . Aviationalonecontributes4.9% 3 ofthis.
1 Peeters, P., Gssling, S., Becken, S. (2007): Innovation towards Tourism Sustainability: Climate Change and Aviation. International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development. 1(3): 184-200. 2Scott, D., Peeters, P., and Gossling, S. 2010. Can tourism deliver its aspirational emission reduction targets? Journal of Sustainable Tourism 18(2), in press. 3 Lee, D.S., et al. (2009): Aviation and global climate change in the 21st century. Atmospheric Environment, Volume 43, Issues 22-23, Pages 3520-3537. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

9/1 Ratanakosin Rd. Tambon Watket,Amphur Muang,Chiang Mai,Thailand 50000 E-mail : office@ecotonline.org,Website:http://www.ecotonline.org Tel+Fax : (66)053-240-026

Alarmingly,itisforecastthatcarbonemissionsfromtourismwillgrowby162%intheperiod20052035 4 . Thisisonlytobeexpectedasmassiveexpansionofairportsandincreaseinlowcostcarrierspavetheway forsuchgrowthinemissions.Moreover,thetourismindustryisnotoriousforhighpercapitaconsumption ofwater,poorenergyefficiency,wastemanagementissues,whichleadstoseriousnegative environmentalandsocialimpacts. Thekindofissuestheworldcommunitywillfacearisingfromtheeffectsofclimatechangeanditslinkto tourismisprovidedbytheMaldivesinAsia.Itisnowwellacceptedthatthesealevelriseduetoglobal warmingthreatenstofullysubmergetheislandsinthecomingyears,apointdramaticallymaderecently bytheMaldiviangovernmentholdingitsCabinetmeetingunderwater!Whatwillbethefateofthe Maldiviancitizenswhowillbeforcedtobecomerefugeesfromclimatechangewhentheirhomeis submerged,asisplausibleifglobalwarmingcontinuesapace?Andyettourists,whoseemissionsare contributingtosuchasituation,arestillencouragedtogototheMaldives,perhapstoenjoyalastbefore itistoolateexperience.ThePacificisanotherregionwheretheislandsareunderthreatfromglobal warming. Integrationofinternationalaviationandmaritimetransportintomitigationagreements Thetravelindustryclaimstobeawareoftheirclimateresponsibilityandtoaspiretoreducecarbon emissionsthroughoutitsvaluechain.Merestatementsandaspirationsarenotenough.Internationalair transportisthebiggestsourceoftourismemissions,butstillremainsexemptfromtheKyotoProtocol.In thelast12years,nonoticeableprogressincreatinganappropriateclimateregulationregimeforbunker emissions(emissionsfromaviationandshipping)hasbeenachievedaresponsibilitywhichwasgivenin 1997totheaviationandshippingsectoritself.Noconcretemeasurestoreducetheemissionshavebeen proposed,andasaresultofthisseriousnegligence,emissionsfromthesectorhaveincreased considerablyduringthisperiod.BoththeIMO(InternationalMaritimeOrganization)andtheICAO (InternationalCivilAviationOrganization)havebeenfindingwaystoescapetheirresponsibilitiessincethe KyotoProtocol.Giventheurgencyinducedbytheglobalneedtoensurethelessthan2degreesthreshold, suchanirresponsibleperformanceisnotacceptableanymore.ItisnowcrucialthattheUNFCCCincludes bunkeremissionsinitsregulationsbypursuingacooperativesectoralapproach,withParties collaboratingtoreduceemissionsthatoccurininternationalspace5 , thusguaranteeingthatrevenueswill bespentindevelopingcountries.Developingcountriesmustbethebeneficiaries. SustainablemitigationneededBiofuelsafalsehope Sensitivetothechargethattheyareunconcernedabouttheclimatechangeimpactofflyingbutstill adheringtothegrowthpath,theaviationindustryandthetourismsectorhaverecentlybeenhailingthe developmentofsustainablygrownbiofuels.TheUnitedNationsWorldTourismOrganisation(UNWTO) isalsowaitingfortheearliestpossibleglobalintroductionofsustainableaviationbiofuels.6 Theseso calledsustainablebiofuelsconstituteapanaceasothatthebusinessasusualmodecancontinue. Arebiofuelstheanswer?Environmentalanddevelopmentorganisationsclaimthatthesealleged sustainablebiofuelslackappropriatesafeguards.Usingthemonhighcommerciallevelssimplycannot besustainable.Massiveland,resourcesandenergywillbeneeded,sothattheoutcomecannotreally contributetoreducingglobalwarming.Usingagrofuelsforcommercialaviationwillonlyshiftclimate problemstootherareassuchasenvironmentalorsocialconcernsincludingfreshwatershortages,soil
4 Peeters, P., Gssling, S., Becken, S. (2007): Innovation towards Tourism Sustainability: Climate Change and Aviation. International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development. 1(3): 184-200. 5CAN Position paper , Emissions from International Aviation and Shipping. 6Discussion paper on climate change mitigation measures for international air transport, UNWTO, Madrid.

runoffanderosion,deforestation,spaceuse,endangeredfoodsecurity.Foodshortagesandthe consequentcommunityangerhavethepotentialinsomecountriestoendangernationalsecurity. Sofar,thesesustainablebiofuelscausemoreproblemsthantheysolve.Ifthenextgenerationof biofuels,suchasalgae,lookspromisingastheyarenotexpectedtocausefurthersocialor environmentalproblemsitwilltakeyearsbeforethesesourcescanbeused.Globalwarmingdoesnot giveustheluxuryoftimetoremaininactiveandwaitfornewsolutions.Actionisneedednowandbiofuels appeartoconstituteanotherfalsehope. CleanDevelopmentMechanisms(CDM) Alarmingly,theUNWTOputupfordiscussionthepropositionthatSomeCleanDevelopmentMechanism andEmissionTradingprojectsandtradingrevenuesbeearmarkedforspecificallotmenttorelated aviationandtourismprojectsTheexperiencesuggeststhatwhileontheonehand,CDMprojectsfrom bigenterprisesmightbeabletocreateemploymentandreduceemissions,ontheotherhand,CDMwas misusedgreatlybyWesterncompaniestooffsetemissionsintheSouthinsteadofintheNorth,therefore nottacklingtheproblematitsroots.CDMhasbecomeamoneymakingtool,andeventhoughitsbasic requirementistofinanceclimatefriendlyprojects,researchdonebyindependentNGOssuchas InternationalRiverOrganisationorCDMWatchshowtheopposite.Manybusinessasusualprojects werefinancedbyCDM. InthiscontextitisnotacceptablethatUNWTOconsidersraisingincomethroughCDMappliedtotourism andaviationdevelopment.Boththetourismandaviationindustriesshouldconsidermitigationoftheir emissionsasanintegralpartoftheirdecisionmakingandbusinessoperations,whichshouldalsoinclude climateresponsibility.CommunitiesandmovementsintheGlobalSouthhaveexpressedaclearstandthat marketbasedmechanismssuchasCDMandcarbontradingarefalsesolutions.Asamajorsourceof emissions,Northerncountriesneedtomitigatetheiremissionsintheirowncountries.Furthermore,the callforclimatejusticeimpliesthat,havingacknowledgedtheirresponsibilityforGHGemissions,Northern countriesshouldbepreparedtomakesubstantialfinancialtransferstotheSouthforcopingwiththe inevitableimpactofglobalwarning,suchasnaturaldisasters,sealevelrise,foodshortageormass migration. Povertyalleviation:themythsoftourism TheUNWTO,likesometourismdependentnations,arguesthataregulativeframeworkforlimitinggrowth ofemissionsfromshippingandaviationcouldhavenegativeimpactsontourismrevenuesthatcontribute topovertyalleviationindevelopingcountries(socalledSpilloverEffects).Asahighlyglobalised economicsector,tourismisoftenviewedasadevelopmentmotor,benefittingthepoor.Thegroups endorsingthisCallforActionstatefromtheirexperiencethattheideathattourismalleviatespovertyisa .While it is acknowledgedby civil societythat climate myth,andthisissubstantiatedbyresearch 789. responsepoliciesmustnotunderminedevelopmentoutcomesthatareappropriateandgenuinely beneficialtothirdworldpoorcommunities,thereisconcernexpressedwithregardtothedistributionof tourismrevenues.Itmustbequestionedhowmuchoftheincomegeneratedfromtourismcontributesto thenationalandlocaleconomywithwhatpartofthiseventuallyreachingthepooranddoesnotleakout fromdevelopingeconomiesthroughforeignownedtouroperators,airlines,cruisecompanies,hotel
7Ashley, C., Boyd, C., Goodwin, H. (2000): Pro-poor Tourism: Putting Poverty at the Heart of the Tourism Agenda. In: Natural Resource Perspectives No. 51. London: Overseas Development Institute and Sustainable Living. 8Leeds Development Education Centre, Tourism Concern (1993): The Final Frontier? 9Thai Institute for Development and Administration (1989). A Research Report on Linkages and Leakages of Tourism Income in the Accommodation and Travel Agency business.

chains,andfoodanddrinkimports10 (inturnrelatingtotheunsustainableconsumptionpatternstourism promotes).Aswell,throughthemarketlawsofsupplyanddemandcreatedbytourism,thesupplyof limitedvitalresourcesinflatespricesbeyondthereachofthelocalpopulation.Aswell,naturalresources aredivertedforthesakeoftouristsinsearchofapleasurabletimearoundaswimmingpoolorinagolf coursetothedetrimentoflocalpopulationsstrugglingtoaccesswaterfortheireverydayneeds. TheendorsingNGOsexpresstheirgraveconcernaboutUNWTOslackofapeoplecentred,community perspectiveinrelationtoclimatechangeandtourismpolicies.Wemustraisecriticalquestions,suchas whoreallybenefitsfromtourism?Whydothepoorestpeople,whoaretheleastresponsibleforthe negativeimpactsoftourism,sufferthemost?Whydotheyhavetopaythecarbonbillothershave caused?Whatisthelogicofrelyingtoomuchoninternationaltravelthatiscontributingtorisingsea levelsanddevastatingmillionsofpeopleslivelihoodthroughitscarbonemissionsandilleffects?Weare concernedthatwellknownproblemswilljustworseninclimatechangedisasteraftermaths.Theseinclude problemscausedbyinternationaltourismsuchaslandconflicts,struggleforwateraccess,missing mechanismsofsocialsecurity,commercialsexualexploitationofchildrenorsextourism.Hencedisaster preventionmeasuresintourismshouldbepartoftheresponsetotheclimatechangechallenge.CSR strategiesshouldbeimplementedinordertogenuinelyprotectpeople,notjustasanattractiveself promotionmeans.Suchconsiderationsshouldbepartofthebasistoshapeclimatejusticepoliciesthat aremostbeneficialtothelocalcommunities. Whiletourismmaybringeconomicbenefittofewintheshorterterm,inmanyplacessuchbenefitsare likelytobeovershadowedbytheimpactofclimatechangeandothernegativeimpactsoftourism.The propagatorsofsocalledtourismdevelopmentshouldthereforerethinktheirstrategiesandtakeinto accountthefactthattourismisnotaviableoptionforthepoorandshouldnotbepromotedasa developmentmodelforpoornations.Thethreatscausedbytourismtoclimatechangeandviceversavery clearlyshowthattourismisnotasustainablelivelihoodoptionforthecommunities(especiallythepoorer sections).Theideaofcreatingpoornationsdependencyonanindustryliketourismthatishighly vulnerabletomanyexternalfactorsneedstobequestioned. Aparadigmshift Abroadandurgentparadigmshiftiscalledforthetourismsector.Thefollowingdelineatesthe dimensionsofsuchashiftwithapeoplecentredapproach,andtheappropriateactionsneeded. Thetourismsectordoesnotcomeunderanyemissionregulations.Thismustchange.Binding reductiontargetsmustbecompulsorilyimposed40%by2020,withabaseyearof1990.Inthis regard,anactionplanbasedonUNWTOsDavosDeclarationthatismeasurableand transparentmustbedevelopedandbinding. Giventhepositionitholds,UNWTOneedstosetforitsmembersclearemissionreductiontargets withtimelinesratherthanleaveittoselfregulationwhichhasbeenineffective,andis unacceptable.Nationalgovernmentsthatdetermineandimplementpoliciesfortourismshould beheldaccountableforclimateimpactoutcomesresultingfromthem. Accurateandreliablemethodstocalculateemissionsintourism,includingcarbonandnoncarbon emissions,shouldbeused.Additionally,socialandenvironmentaldisclosureoftourismpractices, likedisclosingcarbonfootprintorecobalanceasamethodofaccountability,isalsonecessaryto raiseconsumerawareness. MarketbasedmechanismsandfalseclimatesolutionssuchasCDM,REDD,agrofuels,carbon tradingarenotacceptable.Facingthedramaticaccelerationofglobalwarming,statedinthelast IPCCreport,Annex1countrieshavetoreducetheiremissionsathome.

10 IFC, World Bank, MIGA (2000): Tourism and Global Development.

Itisnotacceptablethatthetourismandaviationindustriesdemandsupportfromemission tradingorCDMtofinanceclimateprotectionmeasures.Theyshouldfinancethisthemselves withintheirowncorebusinessstrategiesandoperations.AstheindustryshowedCorporate SocialIrresponsibilityinmitigatingtheirownemissions,weaskforbindingregulativemeasures ratherthanrelyontheindustriesvoluntaryefforts. Climateprotectionintourismrequiresasignificanttransformationofcurrentformsofmass tourismandaseriousengagementofgovernmentsonthisissuetoreducetourismsclimate changefootprint.Smallscale,fair,just,peoplecentredandparticipatorytourism,shouldbegiven amuchhigherattention. Nationshighlydependentontourismneedtodevelopalternativesourcesofincometobecome lessdependentonthishighlyvulnerableandoftendevastatingindustry. Disasterpreventionmeasuresshouldbeincorporatedwithincorebusinessoperationsoftourism industriesincludingmechanismsofsocialsecurity,protectionofwomenandchildrenintourism, labourstandards. Afairandjusttourismmodelmustbedeveloped.Thismodelshouldbebasedonalabourrights basedapproachandshouldensurethatprolabourstandardsareadheredto.Communities shouldalsobeabletodemocraticallyshareallbenefitsfromtourism.

Wecallforthetourismindustrytobeconsciousoftheplightoflocalcommunities:tourismdoesnot alwaysalleviatepovertyanditcreatesenvironmentalandsocialdamages,itoftenaggravatespovertyand underminesMilleniumDevelopmentGoals.Theprofitsgainedfromtourismarerepatriatedtopowerful investors,whileitsdamagingeffectsremainonthegroundforlocalcommunitiestosufferfrombothin theshortandlongterm.Thelinkbetweentourismandclimatechangecannotbedeniedanymoreanditis nowtimeforthetourismindustrytotakemeasuresthatwilltakeintoaccountthepeoplewithoutwhom tourismwouldnotbepossible. COP15,718December2009 Forfurtherinformation:contactoffice@ecotonline.org;CaesarDMello:Tel+6653240026;Amlie Vignaud:+6653240026
Endorsingagencies AcciperunTurismeResponsible(ATR)http://www.turismoresponsable.org/ AlbaSudwww.albasud.org AlternativeTourismGroup(ATG)www.atg.ps AsianMuslimActionNetworkwww.arfasia.org/aman AsianResourceFoundationhttp://www.arfasia.org/ CaritasAsiahttp://www.caritas.org/worldmap/asia/index.html ChristianConferenceofAsiahttp://www.cca.org.hk/ CoastalDevelopmentPartnership(CDP)http://www.cdpbd.org/ CommissiononJustice,PeaceandCreationofNationalCouncilofChurchesIndia(NCCI)www.nccindia.in Echowaywww.echoway.org/ EQUATIONS http://www.equitabletourism.org/ ImaginePeacewww.imaginepeace.or.kr KABANI,theOtherDirectionwww.kabani.org KoreaAnabaptistCentrewww.kac.or.kr MangroveActionProject(MAP)http://www.mangroveactionproject.org/ PacificConferenceofChurches(PCC)http://www.pcc.org.fj PeaceforLife(PfL)http://www.peaceforlife.org/ ChristianChurchofBali(GKPB)http://www.christianchurchbali.org/ SekolahTinggiIlmuManajemenDhyanaPura(STIMDPSchoolofAdvancedScientificManagement) http://dhyanapura.ac.id/