Destination Think commits to five actions alongside Tourism Declares, a tourism industry group striving for climate justice.

At a time when climate change is among the world’s greatest threats, can tourism make the world a better place? We believe it has to. The tourism industry cannot continue responsibly without recognizing that the Earth is warming, that the consequences could be dire – especially for those who are most vulnerable – and that tourism and travel leaders can act to help prevent the worst outcomes. 

Today, by declaring a climate emergency, Destination Think joins a coalition of 230+ organizations and professionals in the Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency initiative. This group includes tour operators, accommodations, tourism destinations like Visit Scotland, and many others who recognize the need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by half over the next decade.

Destination Think and all Tourism Declares signatories commit to these five actions.

1. Develop a climate action plan within 12 months of this declaration.
2. Share our commitment and progress publicly. Following this declaration, we will share our climate action plan and progress against that plan each year.
3. Reduce carbon emissions. Destination Think’s climate action plan will be developed in line with current IPCC advice stating the need to cut global carbon emissions to 55% below 2017 levels by 2030 to keep the planet within 1.5 degrees of warming. 
4. Work together. Encourage suppliers and partners to make the same declaration, share best practices amongst peers, and actively participate in the Tourism Declares community.
5. Advocate for change. We recognise the need for system change across the industry to accelerate a just transition towards carbon-free tourism. 

In addition to the five points above, we are going to try to go much further. Here are some of the other actions we are already taking to tackle climate change:

• Auditing our company’s current greenhouse gas emissions as well as historical emissions since the company’s inception. 
• Working with our destination marketing organization clients to build a regenerative approach to tourism through new strategies.
• Collaborating with Tourism Declares and the Future of Tourism Coalition to create climate action blueprints that will help destinations build climate action plans following their declarations. The blueprints are expected to be presented at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) held in Glasgow in November 2021. 

Tourism’s fight against climate change asks for your leadership toward a regenerative tourism industry that follows the principles of climate justice. The groundswell of support is growing. 

Will you join us and the tourism industry in declaring a climate emergency? Visit Tourism Declares to find all the tools you need.

Feature image credit: Markus Spiske, Unsplash