As part of Tourism Day at COP29, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), with the support of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan, presented the second edition of the "Net Zero Roadmap for Travel & Tourism".
This updated decarbonization plan builds on the first roadmap, which was introduced at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021. It underscores the urgent need for climate action in the travel and tourism sector to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
The newly published report, supported by the State Tourism Agency, reveals that 53% of the 250 tourism companies analyzed have already set climate targets, marking a 42% increase compared to the first edition in 2021. Additionally, the report highlights that 75% of global travelers express a desire for more sustainable travel options.
Speaking at the event, Kenan Gasimov, Chief of Staff of the State Tourism Agency, emphasized that the roadmap outlines strategies for reducing emissions across various tourism-related sectors, from aviation to hospitality. He highlighted that Azerbaijan’s COP29 presidency has played a pivotal role in integrating tourism into global climate discussions and stressed the importance of aligning sustainability practices in tourism with national climate strategies. He also underlined the need for a community-driven, nature-focused approach to tourism development.
Julia Simpson, President & CEO of WTTC, described the updated roadmap as a call to action for the travel and tourism industry, urging immediate collective steps to protect the planet and ensure tourism remains a force for a more sustainable future. The report highlights a 27% increase in climate target-setting across the global tourism sector over the past three years, with more than half of these commitments actively focusing on emissions reductions.
The report references WTTC’s "Environmental and Social Research Paper", which states that in 2023, the travel and tourism sector accounted for 6.5% of global emissions, marking a decrease from 7.8% in 2019. This also reflects a 10.2% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity across the industry. Notably, between 2019 and 2023, carbon intensity in aviation decreased by 6%, while both the cruise and hospitality industries saw an 11% reduction.
The roadmap encourages businesses to set carbon reduction targets, calls on governments and stakeholders to support initiatives in this direction, and urges travelers to make more responsible choices.
The full Net Zero Roadmap for Travel & Tourism is available at: https://researchhub.wttc.org/
