On November 20, the First Ministerial Meeting on Enhanced Climate Action in the Tourism Sector concluded as part of Tourism Day at COP29.
During the meeting, discussions centered on the "Tourism Enhanced Climate Initiative", and the COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in the Tourism Sector was officially announced for further endorsement. The declaration has already been supported by over 50 countries and eight non-state actors, with additional countries encouraged to join the initiative.
In his closing remarks, Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan emphasized that, as the host country of COP29, Azerbaijan has played a crucial role in ensuring that tourism is featured as a key topic in climate negotiations for the first time in history. He expressed confidence that COP29, which highlights the role of tourism in climate change, will create a lasting legacy for future COP events and lead to a growing number of countries supporting the declaration.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili underlined the importance of collective efforts in addressing climate change and noted that the COP29 Baku Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in the Tourism Sector marks a major milestone for the industry, reinforcing the commitments made in the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. He added, "Together, we must ensure that tourism is not just a driver of economic growth but also a force for environmental protection and global solidarity".
The COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in the Tourism Sector is designed to accelerate climate action in the tourism industry, prioritizing the sector’s integration into national and global climate policies. It stresses the urgent need to scale up climate measures, encouraging stakeholders to reduce emissions and adopt sustainable tourism practices.
The event was co-organized by the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan and the UN Tourism, with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It brought together tourism ministers, high-level officials from national tourism authorities, and representatives of international organizations from nearly 30 countries.
As part of Tourism Day, three high-level roundtable discussions were held, covering the themes: "Scaling Up Climate Ambition in Tourism – From Commitments to Implementation (Measurement & Decarbonization)," "Scaling Up Climate Ambition in Tourism – From Commitments to Implementation (Regeneration, Adaptation & Finance)," and "Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism: Innovative Solutions and the Way Forward." The event also featured various thematic presentations, providing insights into the latest strategies and best practices for integrating climate action into the tourism sector.
