Adapting to climate change policies: Progresses, Problems and potentials

1. ADAPTING TO CLIMATE
CHANGE POLICY:
PROGRESS,
PROBLEMS AND
POTENTIALS
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2. Outline
1. Information of Authors
2. Introduction
3. Aims of the paper
4. Research methods
5. Evolution of climate change
and tourism research and
practices
6. Key Knowledge gaps
7. Sectoral Engagement in
CC
8. Implications
9. Key/Special Issues
10.Conclusion, Observation
and Evaluation
11.Link to my Research
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3. “You have almost unlimited boundaries
and your work is related to almost all
Aspects of our lives and there is no
Such area which is not related to
Tourism”
- Ban Ki Moon, side event at UNFCCC-13, Bali
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4. 1. INFORMATION OF AUTHORS/PAPER
1.1. Journal of Sustainable Development (Vol 18:3): 283-295; ISSN: 0966-9582,
DOI: 10.1080/09669581003668540
• http;//www.tandfonline.com/loi/rsus20
1.2. Information of Authors
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Mr. Daniel Scott
Chair, Global Change and Tourism
Dept. of Geography and Environment
Management, University of Waterloo,
Canada
Expert Reviewer of UN IPCC 3rd and
4th Assessment reports and WMO’s
expert on CC and tourism
Ms. Sussanne Becken
Environment, Society & Design
Division, Lincoln University, New
Zealand
Member of Editorial boards of
Journal of Sustainable Tourism and
International Tourism review
Author – 4th IPCC assessment report

5. 2. INTRODUCTION
• Tourism has rapidly expanded since early 1950s
• Increased public and private interests on tourism and Climate change (CC)
• UNFCCC is the main event for Governments, NGOs, Scientists, Researchers
to negotiate critical issues, milestones and international cooperation related to
CC
• High expectations in UNFCCC COP 15, Copenhagen in 2009 – GHGs
emission reduction targets, framework and financial incentives and adaptation
funding – “Hopanhagen”
• Tourism stakeholders – UNWTO, ICAO, IATA, WTTC and several NGOs
participated and represented the COP 15
“CC IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF TOURISM
IN 21st CENTURY”
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6. SCENARIO OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS FLOW
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Source: http://greenfieldgeography.wikispaces.com/

7. INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS
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Sources: UNWTO, 2014

8. CONTRIBUTION OF TOURISM IN GLOBAL GDP
AND EMPLOYMENT
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• US$6,526.9 bn (9.2% of
GDP) in 2012
• US$9,939.5 bn (9.8% of
GDP) in 2022 (Est.)
Source: WTTC, 2012
• 260 million jobs (8.7% of
total employment) in 2012
• 327.9 million jobs (9.8% of
total employment) in 2022
(Est.)

9. 3. AIMS OF THE PAPER
• Not clearly defined methods. Review of the papers,
participant observation, personal communication
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４. RESEARCH METHODS
• Provide the overview of evolution of climate change issues in
tourism research and practice;
• Review and discuss the outcomes of UNFCCC in
Copenhagen from tourism perspective;
• Identify gaps in tourism and CC research, special issue and
their contributions in developing tourism research

10. INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT: CC AND TOURISM
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11. 5. EVOLUTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND TOURISM RESEARCH
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• More than 25 years of history by very slow progress – 1st
paper in 1986
• Not well understood and incorporated in IPCC Assessment
report (1, 2 and 3 in 1990, 1995 and 2001 respectively)
• More publications in 1990s on contribution of tourism to
global CC through GHG emissions from transportation (first
discussed in 1996 and quantified only in 2006)
• Number of publications doubled in 1995-99 and 2000-04 –
North America, Europe, New Zealand

12. ５. EVOLUTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND TOURISM RESEARCH
• Substantial increase in academic fields – Multidisciplinary
research in 2005-07
• 4th IPCC report included tourism – Regional chapters: Africa,
Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Small Island States, Asia.
• UNWTO, UNEP and WMO commissioned tourism focused CC
assessment (2007) – projected CC impacts, regional vulnerability
in destinations, adaptation, estimation of tourism’s contribution to
CC (for the first time) – Approx. 5% of Co2 emissions in 2005
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13. ６. KEY KNOWLEDGE GAP ON CC AND TOURISM
• Geographical biases – Mainly focused in Western
Countries
• Gaps in addressing CC impacts on natural and cultural
resources in tourism in Africa, Caribbean, Pacific Islands,
South America and Asia
• North-South Social inequalities on climate policy
• Limited data availability, quality, accessibility and
compatibility
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14. ６. KEY KNOWLEDGE GAP ON CC AND TOURISM
• Insufficient integration of research and technical
solutions into tourism
• Limited policy analysis in CC and tourism
• Limited studies on CC impacts on long term social and
market trends influencing tourism demand and
development such as Aging society, travel safely, health
concerns environmental awareness, IT etc.
• Limited research on multi-disciplinary collaborations
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15. 7. SECTORAL ENGAGEMENT IN CC AND TOURISM
• Meaningful participation in vulnerability assessment,
mitigation, adaptation at all levels and scales
• High level engagement in International Declarations – Djerba
and Davos declaration – endorsed by the governments at
tourism ministers Summit on CC (London, 2007)
• Potential sources of funding for CC adaptation – International
Air Passenger Adaptation Levy ≈ $ 8 billion/year for
adaptation in developing countries (Largest funder of CC
Adaptation)
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16. 7. SECTORAL ENGAGEMENT IN CC AND TOURISM
• WTTC specified 10 elements in its 1st position paper in COP
15 – deep and rapid cut in GHGs emissions (25-30% by 2030
and 50% by 2035) from the level of 2005
• Much Progress at country level – carbon neutrality,
investment to address CC (Australia invested substantial
amounts in research and policy analysis – 3 special papers)
• New Zealand developed tourism and CC plan – 4 key areas
including adaptation, mitigation
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17. • Not much progress at institution level – IATA and ICAO –
much criticism from Media, Public and Politicians
• IATA has very ambitious goals – carbon neutrality by 2020
• Mckercher (2010) – Special issue of unfound hope – “tourists
with the greatest awareness are the least likely to change
their behaviours” – Analysis based on Hong Kong outbound
tourists attitudes
• How far has CC discourse and action penetrate the tourism
industry in a wider scale?
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7. SECTORAL ENGAGEMENT IN CC AND TOURISM

18. 8. IMPLICATIONS OF TOURISM AFTER COP 15
• Great hopes, but disappointed
• No concrete action on GHGs
emission reductions
• Copenhagen Accords – 27
countries out of 192, rejected by
developing countries
• Non binding for emission
reductions – call for mobilizing $
100 billion annually by 2020 for
developing nations (adaptation
and mitigation)
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19. • Policy uncertainties – no legally binding GHG emissions targets,
lack of deadline to negotiate treaty to Kyoto Protocol, unclear of
investments on emissions reductions
• Secretary General of UNWTO delivered speech in COP 15
• Side events – Climate justice and tourism – emission reduction,
adaptation requirement in destinations, equity, justice and role of
tourism in developing countries
• Statements – demanding for binding GHG emission reduction
targets to be imposed by tourism sector (40% by 2020 with the base
year of 1990) – insufficient and uncertain aspiration of WTTC and
UNWTO & visions of IATA and ICAO
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8. IMPLICATIONS OF TOURISM AFTER COP 15

20. • Key questions on targets, financing, roles of developing nations
remained unsolved
• Half empty and Half full – outcomes of Copenhagen
• UNWTO – optimistic on creation of framework and green
climate fund for poor countries and Live the deal Campaign
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8. IMPLICATIONS OF TOURISM AFTER COP 15

21. • Tourism – neoliberal, economic growth without physical
limits – failure of Copenhagen
• Tourism recognized the responsibilities to reduce
emissions, but remain on tract to record growth year after
year - ?? Sustainable Tourism could be feasible??
• Questions beyond tourism research – willingness to pay
for carbon offsetting or implementing energy efficiency in
tourism businesses
• Tourism from the sustainability point of view in addition to
neoliberalism and capitalism
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8. IMPLICATIONS OF TOURISM AFTER COP 15

22. 9. KEY ISSUES
• How tourism can work along with other sectors to
achieve climate goals of international community
and enable communities in the destination to better
adaptability.
• Change in tourists behaviors in reducing carbon
footprint in short and medium term
• High GHG emissions to arctic, Technological
advancements to reduce GHGs emissions from
tourism
• Direct and indirect impacts on tourism destinations 22

23. ‘The time is right’: the time is right to further discuss and debate on possible
solution of climate change and tourism. The time is right to ‘seal the deal’ and
establish a global emissions-regulated framework. The time is right for
governments/public and private sectors to forge ahead for innovative CCA & M
10. OBSERVATION AND CONCLUSION
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• Limited policy analysis, only focused on one
event
• Methodology and Findings are not so clear
• Better to focus on policies of certain
countries (both developed and developing
countries) and multiple years of negotiations

24. 11. LINK WITH MY RESEARCH
Title: Factors Affecting Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture Sectors in
Nepal
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Factors
of CCA
CC
related
Policy
Natural
Socio-
cultural
Human
Finance
Technol
ogy

25. WE ARE DEDICATED TO MAINTAINING A NATURAL,
SAFE AND GREEN ENVIRONMENT…
so that our children can enjoy the same resources
and beauty that we have for generations.
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THANK YOU
VERY MUCH
“Leave only
footprints, and
take only
photographs.”