Newsletter - December 2021
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Welcome to the first newsletter reporting on progress implementing the Glasgow Declaration.
The Declaration was successfully launched at COP26 with support from over 300 Launch Partners. The event was covered by over 400 news articles with a combined reach of 560 million. Since then, organizations have continued to sign and momentum has continued to build.
This regular newsletter is provided for everyone taking urgent climate action in tourism - it will share key updates, highlight signatory news, and introduce useful supporting resources and information.
Wishing all of you a wonderful festive season and happy new year, we look forward to working together to accelerate tourism climate action in 2022 and beyond!
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Please share this email and ask them to click HERE TO SUBSCRIBE.
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Join the next Technical Session on
the Glasgow Declaration on 27 January 2022
UNWTO and The Travel Foundation are committed to support the implementation of the Glasgow Declaration, within the framework of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme and Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency initiatives and in collaboration with signatories and partners.
During the upcoming webinar on 27 January 2022, the milestones planned for 2022 will be presented and signatories will have the opportunity to share feedback and exchange with the Coordination Team on achievements, priorities and challenges.
Register here for the first exchange with other signatories:
The programme will be available here shortly.
Signatories and partners working on the implementation of the Glasgow Declaration are invited to join the Technical Sessions.
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Euronews Travel prioritizes coverage of
Glasgow Declaration signatories
Euronews Travel is the digital travel section of Europe’s biggest news network and a media partner of UNWTO - with considerable audiences in the UK, US, Germany, France, Spain and Italy - and has a strong focus on responsible travel.
To support the Glasgow Declaration, the network is prioritising coverage of signatories, and seeking news, events, trips, tips, destination guides, and interesting people to interview, with the aim of sharing experiences and building momentum to accelerate climate action in tourism.
Any signatory interested in proposing stories should get in touch on travel@euronews.com. |
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466 signatories (destinations, businesses and supporting organizations), and growing
Destinations, businesses and supporting organizations have steadily continued signing the Glasgow Declaration since its launch. As of 15 December 2021, the Glasgow Declaration counts 466 organizations from across 78 countries, including:
- 59% business signatories - mainly tour operators and accommodation providers.
- 7% destination signatories – mainly DMOs and subnational/local governments.
- 34% supporting organisation signatories – mainly NGOs and business associations.
Find out who has joined!
Please help us grow the community by using your networks to encourage others to join.
If you are a signatory, use the Communications Pack to spread the word!
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Everyone in tourism has a role to play in addressing the climate emergency
The Glasgow Declaration is for everyone in travel and tourism, as every organisation has a role to play in addressing the climate emergency. The Glasgow Declaration provides a platform to accelerate climate action by aligning the efforts of tourism stakeholders.
“Long-term success requires change: adaptation due to the climate emergency is unavoidable. ETOA supports the Glasgow Declaration to ensure that the sector is thriving in Europe in 2030 and beyond. Climate-friendly tourism is possible: the interests of commerce, consumers and climate action will converge.”
Tim Fairhurst, Secretary General, European Tourism Association
“Tackling climate change in the travel and tourism sector requires systemic change and new types of collaboration. By implementing the Glasgow Declaration’s commitments, we seize the opportunity to take urgent action across the hospitality sector, cut down GHG emissions and start shaping the future of sustainable travel.”
Brune Poirson, Chief Sustainability Officer, Accor
“We are experiencing firsthand the effects of climate change, natural disasters and external shocks. The destructive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have severely compounded our vulnerability as a region. We now have the opportunity to rebuild our economies, provide decent work opportunities, reduce poverty, enhance social inclusion, and protect our natural and cultural assets. SPTO commits to mobilizing partnerships and resources to support our members in meeting the aspirations of the Glasgow Declaration through the five pathways.”
Chris Cocker, CEO, Pacific Tourism Organisation
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Recommended Actions for Climate Action Plans
The Glasgow Declaration signatories support the global commitment to halve emissions by 2030 and reach Net Zero emissions as soon as possible before 2050. To achieve these overarching goals, signatories commit to deliver climate action plans within 12 months of signing (or updating existing plans) and implementing them accordingly.
The new available Recommended Actions report intends to provide a starting point for signatories to design an ambitious and effective climate action plan. The actions are categorised according to the five pathways of the Glasgow Declaration: Measure, Decarbonise, Regenerate, Collaborate, and Finance.
The report was developed by UNEP with support from Visit Scotland, Tourism Declares, the Travel Foundation and UNWTO and is available in the repository of tools and resources of the Glasgow Declaration.
Read the Recommended Actions report.
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Operating Guidelines for signatories implementing the Glasgow Declaration
During the drafting phase of the Glasgow Declaration, consultations with a range of experts took place to define the operating guidelines that would guide the implementation of the Declaration. While all signatories make the same commitments, there are differences in the way commitments would be implemented depending on the type of stakeholder.
The operating guidelines are presented as Frequently Asked Questions and provide definitions for technical concepts, recommendations to establish baselines and set targets and explanations for processes to be followed, such as the annual reporting. The FAQs aim at providing valuable guidance for signatories as well as for organizations considering becoming signatories.
Please do not hesitate to contact oneplanetstp@unwto.org if your question is not included in the FAQ.
Read the Operating Guidelines.
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Launch of the Glasgow Declaration event recordings
The official launch of the Glasgow Declaration took place on 4 November 2021 in the Blue Zone of UNFCCC COP26, followed by a webinar session organized by Visit Scotland and partners. The recordings of both events are available and contain high level statements of support, useful case studies and ideas for action.
The launch event at COP26 featured a panel discussion underscoring the importance of increased climate action and ambition in the tourism sector, with contributions from the President of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Minister of Tourism for Panama and the Minister of Trade and Industry for Norway, alongside the European Commission, World Travel and Tourism Council, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Intrepid Group and Tourism Declares.
This event included presentations and a panel discussion with contributions from the Minister of Tourism from Barbados, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, West Sweden Tourist Board, Oregon Coast Visitors Association, Gothenburg & Co, and the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions. Their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead contributed to a practical and lively discussion moderated by UNWTO.
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The Glasgow Declaration aims to unite those leading tourism’s transformation around a common set of pathways for climate action by defining a consistent sector-wide approach to climate action in the coming decade; outlining the specific actions that will accelerate tourism’s ability to achieve net zero as soon as possible; and encouraging signatories to demonstrate their support for scaling up the sector’s response to the climate emergency. The Glasgow Declaration was officially launched at COP26 and is being led by the World Tourism Organisation of the United Nations (UNWTO) in collaboration with the Travel Foundation, and within the framework of the One Planet Network and Tourism Declares initiatives.
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