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Tourism and Climate Change: Blessing or Curse? Presentation to TIAC Leadership Summit, 2008, Gatineau, November 3rd, 2008 Anna Pollock, Executive Consultant, Environmental Services InterVISTAS Consulting Inc.

Tourism and Climate Change: Blessing or Curse? Presentation to TIAC Leadership Summit, 2008, Gatineau, November 3rd, 2008 Anna Pollock, Executive Consultant,

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Tourism and Climate Change:Blessing or Curse?

Presentation to TIAC Leadership Summit, 2008, Gatineau, November 3rd, 2008

Anna Pollock,Executive Consultant,

Environmental ServicesInterVISTAS Consulting Inc.

2

Paper available from:

www.theicarusfoundation.com

Background Resource

The Science

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Tourism is both a victim of and a contributor to climate change

So is tourism to be just part of the problem orpart of the solution?

Dr. Pachauri, Head of IPCC & Co-winner of Nobel Peace Prizehttp://ceochallenge.pata.org/site/index.php?id=pachauri08

Just how warm do we want to be?

"If warming is not kept below two degrees centigrade, substantial global impacts will occur, such as species extinctions, and millions of people will be at risk from drought, hunger, flooding.“ International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

+ 2°C(+ 0.6°)

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It’s Getting Worse Not Better

It’s Getting Worse Not Better

Greenhouse gas emissions are rising at an accelerating rate

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Sustained curiosity, & preparedness needed!

Wild cards and chain reactions Albedo effect Methane Deforestation Ocean currents

Not necessarily gradual

Climate Change & Tourism:

The Curse?

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Market Appeal

Market Appeal

Market Appeal

Market Appeal

Ecological Diversity

Cultural Diversity

Fragility

These plus 22 other mammals and 540 other species are at significant risk of extinction in BC

Landscapes

Water: Too Little or Too Much?

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PR

EP

AR

ED

NE

SS

Low

High

RISK High

Low

Source: KPMG

Transport, Tourism, Aviation in Danger Zone

Pressure from Corporate Travel Procurement

Big business is acting quickly Public companies required to disclose carbon

footprint as part of its CSR report Companies with huge travel budgets like PWC,

Siemens etc are targeting a 20% reduction in air travel for each staff member.

Green meetings and Incentive travel are first to be seriously affected

Reduce internally first, then delving into supply chain

Growing Public Concern

More Consumer Research Needed

The anti-flying hysteria is maturing but significant shifts in values are occurring among educated and affluent consumers

Relationship between attitudes and behaviour still emerging

Who are the Greens? How do green values vary by market and

“explorer type”? What are they really seeking?

Government Responses

Reduction Targets – all levels of government Need a clear price signal for carbon

Taxation or Cap-and-Trade Personal Carbon Allowances?

US Election Green New Deal

Impact on Business

Loss of business Risk Management Cost control Increased insurance Adaptation expenses Differentiation

opportunities Reputation

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What Does Tourism Contribute?

Source: UNWTO

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The Global Travel & Tourism Responsibility

2020 BAU CO2 =2586 million

1990 CO2 = 673 million

2020 Target CO2 = 471 million

2.115 billion tons

Int’l Air is the Elephant in the Room

No mention of tourism International aviation

excluded from Kyoto protocol

Total emissions in 200X = 71 million tons

Emissions associated with international air arrivals could = 6.5-7.0 million tons

Equivalent to: GHG produced by housing in BC

Hospitality Footprint

Hotels, motels, restaurants in Canada generate 5 million tonnes

Aviation emissions account for ~78% of all emissions Internal GHG reductions dwarfed by air travel emissions

Whistler’s Carbon Footprint

Source: Energy Information Administration

Visitor Travel to/from Whistler

2030

~ 14%

~ 86%

Internal

Whistler’s CO2 Emissions

Aviation Emissions Growing Faster than Total Emissions

US CO2 Emissions Annualized Growth Rate 1980 - 2004

0.0% 0.5% 1.0% 1.5% 2.0% 2.5%

Annual Percentage Change

Aviation

Transport

Total

2.0%

1.6%

0.9%

Sources: US Bureau of Transportation Statistics National Transportation Statistics 2007 and OECD

Some Good News – Efficiency Gains

0.0

0.1

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80

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CO

2 E

mis

sio

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pe

r P

as

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Mil

e -

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Source: US Bureau of Transportation Statistics National Transportation Statistics 2007.

CAGR: -1.9%

US Domestic Aviation CO2 Emissions per Passenger Mile 1980 – 2004

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To

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CO 2

Em

iss

ion

s -

Bil

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of

Po

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Total Emissions Continue to Climb…

Source: US Bureau of Transportation Statistics National Transportation Statistics 2007.

CAGR: 2.0%

US Domestic Aviation CO2 Emissions 1980 - 2004

Climate Change & Tourism: The Blessing?

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What’s Possibly Good About Climate Change?

1. Environmental awareness and eco-literacy

2. Greenhouse gas emissions can be measured and reduced

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What’s Possibly Good About Climate Change?

“Climate change is the synthesis of all other environmental issues; energy inefficiency, pollution, species extinction, water use, desertification, urban sprawl…many of the most pressing environmental issues are related intimately to the problem of climate change” Canadian Environmental Grantmaker’s Network

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What’s Possibly Good About Climate Change?

1. Environmental awareness and eco-literacy

2. Greenhouse gases can be measured

3. Reducing our Carbon Footprint is good for business

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Positive Effects of Reducing Carbon

Reduces operational costs Energy Waste processing Insurance Capital

Engages employees – improves recruitment Attracts investment Protects Brand, enhance reputation Increases resilience

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What’s Possibly Good About Climate Change?

1. Eco-awareness and eco-literacy

2. Greenhouse gases can be measured

3. Reducing carbon is good for business

4. It’s forcing us to tell the truth about sustainability

5. It’s forcing us to think about tourism in a low carbon economy.

What Needs Be Done?

1. Raise awareness

2. Commit to reducing its carbon footprint Measure nationally, provincially, by DMO, Association &

Business Disclose Reduce Offset (last resort) Communicate

You Need an ARROW to hit a target!

1. Assess

2. Reduce Waste

3. Renewable Energy

4. Offset the balance

5. Win over governments, customers, employees and investors – tell positive stories

What can and must tourism do?

3. Develop meaningful sustainable destination plans Focus on the net benefit Ensure existing businesses are profitable and resilient before

opening/ developing/attracting new ones Change mix of domestic/international Zero waste on the ground Changing transportation modes Slower travel Achieve much higher yields per visitor – end discount, cheap travel Invest in stewarding the resources on which tourism depends

4. Get ready for a low carbon economy – lead!

Back to Icarus

Icarus has achieved: Some brand recognition A new Board Discussion paper We’re here!

Icarus needs1. Committed concerned people – 5 in every province and

territory

2. Talent and finance to undertake a countrywide awareness and education program

You can’t address a problem you don’t understand

Thank You!

www.theicarusfoundation.com

www.icarusfoundation.typepad.com

www.desticorp.com

[email protected]

www.interVISTAS.com

The InterVISTAS Group

InterVISTAS Consulting Vancouver, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Montréal

InterVISTAS-ga2 Washington DC, Chicago

InterVISTAS-EU London

Aviation, Tourism consulting 70 team members Broad range of marketing, security, facilitation, planning, economics

and environmental services Sustainable Tourism Strategies for Destinations & enterprises Carbon audits

ContactJoe Kelly Anna [email protected] [email protected]