World Travel & Tourism Council

Climate Change Policy Recommendations

WTTC has published a series of recommendations in 'Climate Change - A Joint Approach to Addressing the Challenge' providing a clear framework for true partnership in the creation of policies that address climate change, while allowing Travel & Tourism to prosper. This document was developed in close consultation with industry and other stakeholders including the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The recommendations highlight the need for a policy framework conducive to the sustainable development of the industry while decoupling growth from increased greenhouse gas emissions.

The policy document calls for:

• Industry dialogue and increased private public partnerships to develop cost-effective mitigation and adaptation strategies
• A level playing field free from restrictions on trade and intellectual property rights' infringements - essential for green investments to be valued positively and deployed effectively
• Policies which harness the power of the market and its agents to drive innovation in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures
• Financing and investment in measures to encourage low-carbon Travel & Tourism operations
• Clear messages to consumers communicating the scale of the global threat while at the same time empowering citizens to effect change.

Building on these recommendations, WTTC released in 2011 the Durban Communiqué to governments during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban. WTTC calls on governments to continue to develop the policy structure needed to ensure that Travel & Tourism can achieve low-carbon growth, even in the absence of a global agreement at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Durban. For the full text of the Communiqué, please click here.

For more information on these WTTC climate change policy recommendations and the Environment Initiative, please contact Research and Activities