Over 700 participants from more than 50 countries have endorsed a landmark proposal for Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism recognizing the significant impact of climate change on the tourism sector and its contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In Baku, a First Ministerial Meeting dedicated to positioning tourism policy to support national climate goals emphasizing tourism’s potential to actively foster climate adaptation and regeneration strategies, the UN Tourism said.
The First Ministerial was chaired by Mr. Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and included the COP29 President H.E. Mr. Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, UN Tourism, UNEP and UNFCCC.
At COP29, the global tourism sector made clear its commitment to positive transformation for a better future for our planet where 52 governments signed the COP29 Declaration for Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism.
Both UN Tourism Secretary–General, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, and UNEP Executive Director, Ms. Inger Andersen, underlined the need for a science-based approach, referring to advanced new research to be further adapted from the University of Queensland (an Affiliate Member of UN Tourism) indicating that tourism represents 8.8% of global emissions (including direct and indirect emissions), said in a press note of the UN Tourism.
With the aim of laying the foundations for a global coordination mechanism and partnership platform, UN Tourism and the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan signed the Letter of Intent to create a framework for its establishment, it reads.
