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The tourism sector has the potential to act effectively on the evolving common agenda of climate change response and the fight against
poverty. The UNWTO put forward this message during the thematic debate
“Addressing Climate Change: The United Nations and the World at
Work”, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
UNWTO’s Secretary-General, Francesco
Frangialli said, “This is the message that we took to the UN Conference on Climate Change in Bali. It fits into the road map laid out by Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon for the broader UN System Agenda. UNWTO’s position has evolved through a comprehensive preparation which started back
in 2003 with a shared vision of three Agencies - UNWTO representing tourism, the United Nations Environment Programme representing
environment and the World Metereological Organization representing science that we will need to act comprehensively on this issue.”
“Throughout last year we brought together all the key Tourism players to draw up guidelines for a more
climate conscious future and to support the MDGs,” Frangialli added. “The resultant “Davos Declaration Framework” gives us both
principles and new directions for the task ahead.”
Throughout 2008 UNWTO will campaign for a constructive approach by the tourism industry – public, private and civil society – calling on
them to work together to support the Davos Declaration Framework to help transform the sector to meet the climate and poverty
imperatives. “Tourism Responding to the Challenges of Climate Change” has been designated as the theme for this year’s World Tourism
Day, celebrated every September 27 around the world.
Tourism is one of the main services exports with a strong comparative advantage in the world’s poorest and emerging countries. These are
markets that are growing at twice the rate of industrialized countries. At the same time
travel and tourism is tied to the climate and like other sectors we are green house gas contributors. Responsible
growth patterns must now address economic, social, environmental and climate
sustainability.
“This is the quadruple bottom line challenge which is at the heart of our campaign” according
to UNWTO Assistant Secretary-General Professor Geoffrey Lipman who addressed the Assembly Session. “UNWTO will mobilize its more than 150 Member States and its Affiliate
Members in the private, academic and destination communities, representing a network of thousands around the world in an effort to raise
awareness of the magnitude of the challenge and contribute to the global response.”
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