The report, a joint endeavor conducted by the World Economic Forum, UNWTO, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme details solutions in conjunction with leading names in the travel industry. 

The report summarizes both short and long term solutions to eliminating carbon emissions put out by the travel industry in relation to transportation by air, land, and sea, hotels and accommodations, and other services which require carbon emitting technology global. The release of the report coincides with the upcoming UN climate change talks which will be held in Copenhagen this December.

Solutions detailed in the report to be discussed at the Copenhagen talks encompass market mechanisms for addressing climate change in the travel industry as well as carbon emission trading schemes on a global scale for both the tourism and travel sectors. 

The study also incorporates how Governments can get involved to enact reform which could effectively decrease the carbon emissions put out by the travel industry. The report also stressed the need for developing countries with quickly expanding tourism industries to reply more and more on sustainable tourism as they transition into a tourism economy year by year, as well as calls for low carbon air travel to become a priority for developing tourism industry nations.

Furthermore, the report broaches the possibility of a “Green Fund for Travel and Tourism” which would help support countries and businesses to transition towards sustainability in their travel and tourism sectors. The fund would aim to give grants to various aspects of the industry on the state and industry level in order to help equip technologies such as transport, lodgings, and other services with low carbon facilities.

Jacquie Rogers, General Manager of the BT Convention Centre, Liverpool, said: “As the first convention centre in England to achieve gold on this scheme, we are pleased to be setting the benchmark for other such venues to follow. Our in-house ‘green dream team’ has been the driving force behind achieving our green standards and we have worked together as an organisation to implement these. As a result we aim to attract more business to the venue and to Liverpool, as well as showcasing the very best that England has to offer within the conference and meetings industry.”

The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) is a state-run sustainable tourism certification program which awards businesses with gold, silver, or bronze ratings based on their level of sustainability and implementation of ‘green’ programs. Businesses associated with tourism are assessed based on stringent standards put in place by the GTBS board in order to grant ratings to companies that meet the minimum standard for an award.

Several of the hotels in Liverpool maintain a strict environmental policy, including Jury’s Inn Liverpool which has implemented recycling programs, and using all eco-friendly products. The businesses that have recently received GTBS’s awards have helped contribute to making Liverpool one of the greenest tourist destinations in the UK.

Stephen Roberts, Chair of Liverpool Hoteliers, said “This is great news for the area; Liverpool is the only compact city centre with this kind of offer. Environmental issues are becoming increasingly important when businesses are deciding on conference venues and with the added bonus of hotels improving their green credentials, this is making the city a very attractive place for business visitors.”

Thanks to traveldailynews.com for the above quotes, for more information on this story please view their website.