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Bonn, 31st of May 2010

Tourism: on the one hand, it is a victim of global warming; on the other hand, it contributes to the problem by generating vast levels of carbon emissions. This has prompted the Tourism European Network (TEN), including Tourism Concern, to demand climate justice in international tourism on the occasion of the climate negotiations in June 2010 in Bonn.

Although tourism is not directly negotiated at the UN climate talks, it is mentioned. Bunker emissions (emissions from aviation, including holiday flights, and shipping) have been under negotiation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for years.

However, they have so far not been subject to any binding regulations. In fact, international tourism is used as an argument against binding regulations to limit aviation and shipping emissions. There are concerns that such climate protection measures may harm tourism’s growth potential, particularly with respect to its role as a foreign-exchange earner and driver of development for poor countries.

TEN and its partner organisations are instead demanding a critical debate about tourism and the impacts of its continued, unfettered growth.

“Tourism is promoted in an uncritical and unethical way. It may bring economic benefits to a few but is often outshined by its adverse impacts on the local communities and environment”, claims Sumesh Mangalassery of Kabani, India, an organisation working on tourism, human rights and development. “Climate change and its so called solutions are aggravating these impacts and violating the basic human rights of the communities. Therefore a complete paradigm shift in current tourism development and climate change negotiations are essential”.

Rachel Noble from UK organisation Tourism Concern underlines that tourism is already responsible for a range of negative impacts on poor countries. “Global warming could seriously exacerbate existing problems caused by tourism, particularly in relation to water scarcity”.

“Emissions from aviation and shipping must be placed under binding regulations, as should all emissions from tourism”, says Heinz Fuchs of Tourism Watch, part of the German Church Development Service (EED). But the debate around climate justice and tourism goes beyond reduction measures. “There needs to be a shift in thinking on the part of tourism decision makers and the international tourism industry, which sees them take social responsibility for the impacts of tourism beyond the existing legal requirements. Climate protection measures must become an integral part of voluntary corporate social responsibility initiatives and sustainability strategies”, says Fuchs.

These and other issues around tourism and climate justice will be discussed at a special side event on 4th of June 2010, starting at 6pm, at the University Club Bonn. This will be followed by an open wine reception with the TEN members in the foyer.

The panellists will be available for interviews. They are in Bonn on the occasion of the Tourism European Network (TEN) meeting from 3rd till 6th of June 2010.

Invitation to side event:
Climate justice and tourism: Myths surrounding tourism and climate policies
Friday, 4th of June 2010, 6-10pm
Wolfgang Paul room at the University Club Bonn (Universitätsclub) e. V.
Konviktstr. 9
53113 Bonn

Members of Tourism European Network (TEN)
Akte – Working Group on tourism and development (Switzerland)
Associazione RAM (Italy)
EED – Tourism Watch (Germany)
Informatie Verre Reizen (Netherlands)
Karavaan (Belgium)
Naturefriends International (Austria)
Respect- Institute for Integrative Tourism & Development (Austria)
Stichting Retour Foundation (Netherlands)
Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung (Germany)
Tourism Concern (Great Britain)
Guests during the TEN meeting 2010:
Ecumenical Coalition On Tourism (Partner of TEN, based in Thailand)
Naturefriends Flanders (Belgium)
Kabani – the other direction (India)
Schyst Resande (Sweden)