UN included sustainable tourism in its climate goals for first time

Tengrinews.kz - The UN has incorporated sustainable tourism into its official climate protection goals. The decision was made during the UN Climate Change Conference held in Baku, where over 50 countries pledged to promote tourism practices that do not harm the environment, according to DW.

Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, described the move as a "historic milestone." She highlighted that tourism, while accounting for 3% of global GDP, is responsible for 9% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Countries that signed the agreement in Baku committed to prioritizing climate protection in the tourism sector and achieving tangible results.

The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, representing 55,000 hotels, including major chains like Accor, Hilton, and Marriott, will monitor data on greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and electricity consumption. Glenn Mandziuk, the organization’s head, stated that this data will help both the industry and travelers understand the environmental impact of their actions.

Under the new agreement, hotel chains pledged to actively implement environmentally friendly practices and closely monitor their emissions to minimize their ecological footprint.

Earlier, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a speech at the Climate Action Summit, part of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), held in Baku.