United Nations Environment Programme

Sustainable Tourism:
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Leading the Change Towards a Green Economy

World Tourism Forum Lucerne, 18 April 2013 Arab Hoballah Chief, SCP

CONTENTS:
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Status of Sustainability in Tourism

2 3 4 5

Drivers of a Green Economy & Resource Efficiency

Key Actions over the Next Decade

Conclusions

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Our Focus: Resource Use/Efficiency & SCP:

besides numbers, natural resources & ecosystems

Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP);

from Rio 1992 to Rio 2012: from major cause to overarching objective to adoption. A progressive change in mindsets and behavior;
Para 224-226 of the RIO+20 Outcomes Document

We recognize that fundamental changes in the way societies consume and produce are indispensable for achieving global sustainable development

10-Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on SCP adopted Not just an Env. issue but clearly a social and economic issue;

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RIO+20 Outcomes document: Sustainable tourism emphasized as a key vehicle for sustainable development:
(Paragraph #130 of Outcomes Document)

well-designed and managed tourism can:

make a significant contribution to the three dimensions of sustainable development has close linkages to other sectors can create decent jobs generate trade opportunities

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Contd paragraph #130:

Recognize the need to support:

sustainable tourism activities relevant capacity-building that:
promotes environmental awareness, conserves and protects the environment, respects wildlife, flora, biodiversity, ecosystems and cultural diversity, and improves the welfare and livelihoods of local communities by supporting their local economies and the human and natural environment as a whole

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RIO+20 Outcomes Document: Paragraph

#131

encourage the promotion of investment in sustainable tourism, including ecotourism and cultural tourism e.g. by:
creating small and medium-sized enterprises facilitating access to finance Including e.g. microcredit initiatives for the poor, indigenous peoples and local communities in areas with high eco-tourism potential

UNEP/SCP:
Integrated Resource Management

Multi-sectors approach necessary

Business and Industry

Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production (NCPCs) Safer and Responsible Production Business and CESR

International Resource Panel Life Cycle Management

Goods and Services

10 Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) Mainstreaming SCP policies in development policies Sustainable Tourism Programme

Responsible Consumption
Sustainable Public Procurement Eco-labeling/product information tools Sustainable Lifestyles Sustainable Agri-food supply chains

Built Environment
Sustainable Buildings & Climate Initiative Sustainable Cities

UNEP Tourism Programme - Activities

UNDP & UNWTO: Green Economy ILO: Green Jobs UNIDO: NCPCs

10YFP Secretariat

Sustainable tourism including ecotourism Programmes

Consumers and sustainable choices

Green Passport Campaign

Sustainable Tourism

Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism

Project design, implementation and monitoring; Uniting stakeholders

Global Food Waste Campaign

Minimizing food wastes; Responsible purchasing

Sustainability and Tourism: challenges and opportunities

Two common sides of Tourism:

A well managed tourism

Well integrated in national policy; Local and national economic advantages; Distribution of resources and local income; Local development, income and jobs; improved infrastructure (localized); Cultural promotion and exchanges; Protect natural areas and biodiversity; Reduce poverty; Support, drive, sustain local and national development;
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Sustainability and Tourism: challenges and opportunities

Two common sides of Tourism:

A poorly managed tourism:

No national vision for tourism development; Tourism development not well integrated in national and local policies; Cultural impacts and negative consequences on local rights; Pollution and destruction of ecosystems; Impacts on cultural and natural heritage; More benefits at national and external level than local; Increase of local prices; wasteful activity: water, energy, food.
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Sustainability and Tourism: challenges and opportunities

Tourism very sensitive to climate change: Similar sensitiveness as agriculture, insurances and energy; Can affect tourism plan more than insecurity, as CC more long term impacts; Poor countries with attractive natural resources and landscapes depend a lot on tourism; Islands and SIDS very dependant on tourism and CC impacts; Negative trends for next 20 years at least; Importance of mitigation through Resource Efficiency; behavioral change, responsible consumption and production will be essential; ;
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Status of Sustainability in Tourism

Findings of Sustainable Tourism Situation Analyses in different regions

I. II. Development-Environment Imbalances: Accelerated development and rapid environmental changes outpacing management capacity Planning vs. Implementation: Abundance of Plans limited implementation success
Policy barriers Lack of Understanding of sustainable tourism Lack of policy and plan commitment to sustainability and limited implementation success
Inconsistency in understanding and applying sustainable tourism principles Insufficient access to technical and financial assistance Fragmentation of tourism stakeholders

Low priority for sustainability by governments

Asia-Pacific

Africa

Insufficient incentive to operate sustainably

Financial constraints

Caribbean

Lack of understanding of sustainable tourism Lack of awareness of available sustainable tourism financing Fragmentation among stakeholders

Lack of sustainability tools

Poor stakeholder relationships especially between communities

Main Barriers to Sustainable Tourism

Regional Surveys, the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism, 2012

Lack of understanding of the concept of sustainability and its application Low levels of integration of tourism with other sectors Small businesses and communities that remain marginalized from the tourism value chain Many organizations doing work that is not necessarily meeting country priorities Lack of measured outcomes at destinations An over-reliance on nature based assets

Continuing Upward Trending of Tourism Impacts & Issues

Resource use intensifying

Biodiversity losses increasing and ecosystem integrity declining Management capability is ineffective (ad hoc approaches to sustainability) Critical mass of sustainable operations not yet attained Over reliance on natural - especially coastal assets

Tourism as a key sector toward the shift towards a Green Economy

Tourism is a primary vehicle for a society based on: Resource efficiency and SCP
Natural resources i.e. ecosystems and biodiversity recognized as a vital asset

High vulnerability to impacts of natural hazards, climate change, and changes in natural resources

- High consumption of resources - Tourism sectors contribution to global CO2 emissions is calculated to be about 5%

Key messages from UNEPs Green Economy Initiative

Prioritize green investment in budgets (private and public) Create public-private green investment funding mechanisms
Improve enabling conditions at destinations (e.g. fiscal/pricing policy, standards, education & training)

Promote sustainability via global instruments (e.g. trade agreements, IPRs, ODA, technology transfer, environmental agreements)

3 Drivers of a Green Economy & Resource Efficiency

New Approaches and Tools for Industry

Mainstreaming of Environment into Economics

Environmentally Sound Technologies

Changes in Behaviour
Decouple Economic Growth from Environmental Degradation

The concept of a green economy does not replace sustainable development, but there is now a growing recognition that achieving sustainability rests almost entirely on getting the economy right. The Green Economy Report

3 Drivers of a Green Economy & Resource Efficiency

Planning

Monitoring & Evaluation

Operations & Management

Products & Services

Adopting a Tourism Life Cycle Approach & Supply Chain

Investment

Capacity Building

Promotion & Marketing

About the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism

To transform the way tourism is done worldwide, by promoting sustainability through clear policies, successful projects and the sharing of knowledge and experience.

Adding Value Through.

Convening Power Bringing
together tourism stakeholders: public & private sectors, NGOs, UN agencies, donors, etc.

MISSION

Results-based Project Implementation

monitoring and evaluating projects, endorsing the most innovative and transformative for seed funding and donor funding

From Knowledge to Solutions

training and access to the best available knowledge, solutions

Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism 7 Priority and Global Themes Influencing Sustainable Outcomes

Climate Change

Biodiversity/ Environment

CRITERIA PROMOTE: Balance of the 3 pillars of sustainability through.. Innovative project design Destination priorities & issues Indicators of performance and success Measurement, monitoring & reporting

Global Partners Composition

Not-for-Profit Organizations
27%

40% 10% 23%

Government/Loc al Authorities Private Sector

Network of 90 Partners Worldwide

Honorary

Key Actions Over the Next Decade

Investing in Resource Efficiency

Energy: 40 % Savings by 2050 Water: 0.1-9.6 year payback
Modal Shifts: Less Cintensive transport
Short Haul trips (behaviour)

Energy Efficiency

Technology Innovations

Devices & Saving Technologies

Conservation Behaviours & Practices

Waste

Minimization

Recycling

Reusing

Key Actions Over the Next Decade

Employment
Greening Jobs in Services: Supply Side Strategies: Decent Work:
Energy Management

Water Conservation

Waste Management

Local Hiring

Sourcing for remanufacturing

Technology & Process Innovations

Quality Jobs & Working Conditions

Career Development

Empowerment

Key Actions Over the Next Decade

Mainstreaming Sustainable Tourism via 6 Key Steps

(Green Economy as the Framework)

1st 3 steps: People & Organizations

Clarity of Vision Balanced Approaches

1. Policy Frameworks

2. Stakeholder Management

Partnership & Planning Shared risks, rewards

Mitigating Risks Multiplier effect

3. Supply Chain Management

Key Actions Over the Next Decade

Mainstreaming Sustainable Tourism via 6 Key Steps; contd

Next 3 Steps: Achieving Success

Coherent Agency Mandates Relevant to national vision, goal

4. Program & Project Portfolios

5. Measuring Outcomes

Indicators of Success Progress & Performance

Best practices prevailing Continuous Improvement

6. Transformative Learning

Systematic Planning & Implementation of all 6 key steps

10 Year Framework of Programmes on SCP

Sustainable Lifestyles and Education

Consumer Information

Sustainable Buildings and Construction

Sustainable Public Procurement

Initial List of Programmes

Sustainable Tourism incl. Ecotourism

Key Actions Over the Next Decade

Developing the 10YFP Programme On Sustainable Tourism

Research & Consultation

Agreement on elements of the programme

Submission to the Secretariat and template on-line for final comments

Review by the Secretariat and support of the Board

Programme launching and implementation

Conclusions: Importance of Uniting Stakeholders

Private Sector

Governments

Civil Society

Innovate

Transform

Campaign

Lead
Navigate Manage

Perform

Regulate

Verify

Train

Promote

Monitor

Cooperate
Reduce Incentivize Collaborate

Conclusions
In about 30 years, +3 billion New Middle Class Consumers expected; Demand for resources and for Tourism services to increase; Need for more hotels, more energy, water, food, transport means; Tourism development and tourists as consumers, allies or enemies to development and SD; Still a very long way !! Tourism, engine for local development and poverty eradication; a huge challenge but not impossible.

Thank you! For more information please contact us:

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Division of Technology, Industry and Economics 15, rue de Milan, 75441 Paris Cedex 09, France Tel : +33 (0) 1 44 37 14 29 Fax : +33 (0) 1 44 37 14 74 E-mail : unep.tie@unep.org Web: www.unep.org/dtie; www.GlobalSustainableTourism.com

Arab Hoballah
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 37 14 39 E-mail: Arab.hoballah@unep.org

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