World leaders were called by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) to make an urgent investment of $65 billion annually in coastal and marine tourism, to protect it from climate risks.
Of the proposed amount, $30 billion is needed for direct emissions reduction, and an additional $35 billion for climate adaptation efforts, according to the Council’s proposal.
Iberostar Group and Oxford Economics were responsible for preparing the Climate and Ocean report, which will be subsequently published, although it contains the figures necessary to mitigate the environmental footprint of tourism.
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The report also highlights that coastal and marine tourism directly contributed 0.8% of global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in 2023, equivalent to 390 million tons of CO₂.
Coastal destinations around the world, especially those in vulnerable regions, face increasing threats from climate change, such as sea level rise, extreme weather events and coastal erosion.
Thus, according to the World Travel Council, investments in the marine conservation, maritime transport, ocean renewable energy, aquatic food and coastal tourism sectors could reduce GHG emissions by up to 35% and contribute to a resilient, positive future. for nature and with net zero emissions by 2050.
Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the WTTC, explained that protecting the coast and marine life is not only an environmental necessity, but a social imperative.
“Coastal and marine tourism is a lifeline for millions of people around the world, generating $1.5 trillion for the global economy. But it is on the front line of climate change,” he said.
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For her part, Gloria Fluxa, vice president and director of Sustainability of the Iberostar Group and president of the WTTC Sustainability Committee, stated that “Decarbonization and adaptation are essential investments to build a resilient and positive tourism model for nature.”
The report adds mention of climate solutions that are proving to have a positive impact, such as Visit Scotland, which has invested in renewable energy and low-carbon infrastructure to reduce emissions.
In Thailand, the report says, the Nai Nang Mangrove Action Project shows how mangrove restoration can protect coastlines and increase resilience.
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