Destinations have a role to play in reducing carbon

Destinations should measure and manage their carbon footprint to show progress in energy efficiency, set realistic targets and support other industries to reduce emissions.

The “Climate Catalysts” webinar was recently hosted by GDS, the Global Sustainability Destination movement, focusing on understanding where tourism emissions come from and the capacity of destination management organisations (DMOs) to influence change in this area.

Destinations need to measure their own carbon emissions, set targets, and build knowledge within the organisation and across functions. The webinar discussed how it’s increasingly important to see what the marketing team within a DMO does through a climate action lens and what the finance or purchasing teams do too, so that different departments can work together to help the organisation move in the right direction.

Demand vs supply emissions

Focusing on where a destination can make the biggest difference is key, as well as understanding its capacity to influence change. Dr Mireia Guix, lecturer in tourism and hospitality at the University of Queensland, said destinations should consider a range of tourism emissions, at the demand, supply and destination level. ‘Demand’ emissions include the number of tourists who visit, how much they spend and where they spend it, as different products can have varying carbon intensities.

At the supply level, destinations should examine energy efficiencies - for example, to what extent does the tourism business rely on renewable energies versus fossil fuel and how ‘green’ is the supply chain? Market mix at the destination level is equally important, as different visitor market segments - from business to leisure to sporting events for example, will have varied carbon footprints depending on how far they have travelled, how long they are staying and what activities are planned.

Guix added that destinations should also consider how much a destination relies on imports versus local products and consider specific characteristics that cannot be changed. For example, an island destination is likely to rely on long-haul aviation, and any investments that destinations make right now in terms of new airports and railway connections for example, are locking up emissions for many years to come.

More than support actions

According to research, however, many destinations appear to commit mostly to ‘support actions’, meaning that their pledges are not specific enough to measure change. And while many factors can be outside a destination’s control, that doesn't mean they cannot do anything about it.

“For some factors, you may have direct control; for others, you may support firms' change of behaviour, influence consumers' behaviour or coordinate and lobby for large-scale policy changes,” said Guix. “The idea is that you are aware that your role is to influence change, among businesses through the supply chain. Uptake of renewables, more energy efficiency or greener supply chains also influence consumer behaviours.”

Matti Pollari, project manager at Visit Tampere in Finland shared the region’s climate action programme for the year ahead, showing how it has elevated climate action to a competitive advantage for tourism by showcasing efforts towards carbon neutrality in the tourism and events sector by 2030. Its strategies include improving clean energy supply, public transportation, and walkability/cyclability in the city centre, as well as measuring carbon footprints, decarbonising businesses and developing sustainable mobility services.