WTTC unveils data on tourism's climate footprint

07-12-22

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today released groundbreaking new data detailing the climate footprint of the global Travel & Tourism sector.

The data was presented today at the world tourism body's 22nd Global Summit in Riyadh by the World Travel & Tourism Council and the Global Sustainable Tourism Centre based in Saudi Arabia.

For the first time in the world, this comprehensive research covers 185 countries in all regions and will be updated annually with the latest figures.

During her keynote address, Julia Simpson, President and CEO of WTTC, announced the Environmental & Social Research (ESR) data. In one of the largest research projects of its kind ever undertaken, WTTC can, for the first time, accurately report and track the impact that industries within the sector have on the environment. 

Previous estimates suggested that the global travel and tourism sector was responsible for up to 11% of all emissions. However, WTTC's groundbreaking research shows that in 2019 the sector's greenhouse gas emissions totalled only 8.1% globally. 

The divergence between the sector's economic growth and its climate footprint between 2010 and 2019 is evidence that Travel & Tourism's economic growth is decoupling from its greenhouse gas emissions.  

These emissions have been declining steadily since 2010 as a result of technological advances as well as the introduction of a range of energy efficiency measures across the sector's industries. 

Between 2010 and 2019 our sector's GDP has grown on average by 4.3% per year while its environmental footprint has only increased by 2.4%. 

The broader environmental and social research (ESR) will include measures of the sector's impact against a range of indicators, including pollutants, energy sources, water use, as well as social data, including age, wage and gender profiles of travel and tourism-related employment.