Climate Change and Tourism - UNEP - Division of Technology ...

144 Climate Change and Tourism – Responding to Global Challenges
Figure 11.15 CO 2 emissions and radiative forcing shares of different tourism sectors by 2035
(excluding same-day visitors)
Share per tourism element (%)
100
80
60
40
20
11.4 Conclusion
This Chapter represents the first detailed attempt to assess the global share of CO 2 emissions attributable
to tourism, which is here estimated to be around 5% (within a range of 3.9% to 6.0%). Measured in
radiative forcing, the contribution of tourism to global warming is estimated to be 4.6% (excluding
cirrus-related effects), with a range from 3.8% (excluding cirrus-related effects) to a possible maximum
of 9.0% (including maximum cirrus-related effects). The ranges reflect the uncertainty associated with
current assessments.
It should be noted that results are based on a number of assumptions, and it remains an important
task for the future to further develop worldwide comprehensive tourism demand data on transport,
accommodation and other activities.
Furthermore, it is important to start a more complete assessment of the use of various forms of
accommodation and average emissions per accommodation type and class. The same is true for other
tourism activities. The latter should also include local transport at the destination and specifically address
the issue of touring that can comprise significant amounts of travel and consequent emissions.
Regarding CO 2 emissions by sector, it is clear that transport generates the largest proportion of emission
(75%). In terms of radiative forcing (contribution to 2005 climate change) the share of transport is
significantly larger and ranges from 81% to 89%, with air transport alone accounting for 54% to 75%
of the total. Variation in emissions from different types of tourist trips is large, with the average domestic
tourist trip generating 0.12 t CO 2 and the average international tourist trip 0.49 t CO 2 . Long-haul and
very luxury cruises can however generate up to 9 t CO 2 per trip (i.e., 18 times the emissions caused by
an average international tourist trip). The majority of tourist trips cause only small amounts of emissions,
though. For instance, international tourist trips (i.e., overnight tourist trips) by coach and rail, which
account for an estimated 16% of international tourist trips, stand only for 1% of CO 2 emissions generated
by all international tourist trips (transport emissions only). In contrast, a small number of energy-intense
trips is responsible for the majority of emissions, i.e., the air-based passenger transport (17% of all
international tourist trips) is estimated to cause about 40% of all tourism-related CO 2 emissions and
54–75% of the radiative forcing. Likewise, long-haul travel between the five world regions stands for
only 2.2% of all tourist trips (excluding same-day tourism), but contributes around 16% to global tourism
emissions (including accommodation, activities, overnight and same-day tourism).
The ‘business-as-usual’ scenario developed for 2035 shows that there will be considerable growth in
CO 2 emissions and RF in the tourism sector, if systematic mitigation measures are not implemented. As
a consequence, a comprehensive strategy is required to reduce tourism-generated emissions. Chapter
12 provides a discussion on the range of technological, behavioural, managerial and policy measures
and initiatives that can bring tourism on are more sustainable emission pathway.
UNWTO, 9 July 2008
0
6
24
1
15
53
4
16
1
10
70
2
8 0
5
84
CO 2 RF RF
emissions (excluding cirrus) (incl. maximum cirrus)
Activities
Accommodation
Other transport
Car transport
Air transport