For the first time in the history of the summit, COP29 featured a Tourism Day, with a First Ministerial Meeting dedicated to positioning tourism policy to support national climate goals. In Baku, public and private sector leaders recognised the significant impact of climate change on the tourism sector and its contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the same time, they highlighted the potential of tourism to actively promote climate adaptation and regeneration strategies. More than 700 stakeholders participated in Tourism Day events.
Governments united around climate action in tourism
The First Ministerial Meeting was chaired by Mr. Fuad Naghiyev, President of the State Agency for Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and included COP29 President His Excellency Mr. Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, UN Tourism, UNEP and UNFCCC.
Both UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili and UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen stressed the need for a science-based approach, referring to new cutting-edge research to be further adapted at the University of Queensland (UN Tourism Affiliate Member) indicating that tourism accounts for 8.8% of global emissions (including direct and indirect emissions).
In his address to delegates, Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “For the first time, the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties’ Action Agenda has included tourism. The First Ministerial Meeting on Enhanced Climate Action on Tourism marks a turning point, when ambition meets action and vision transforms into commitment. At COP29, the global tourism sector made clear its commitment to positive transformation for a better future for our planet.”
The ministerial meeting welcomed ten tourism ministers (United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Belarus, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Iran, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Montenegro, North Macedonia), two environment ministers (Costa Rica and Maldives) and four deputy ministers (Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Uzbekistan). The state secretaries of Moldova, Portugal, Zambia and Zimbabwe were also present. The Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Pacific Tourism Organization delivered statements on behalf of their members. The World Travel & Tourism Council and the Global Sustainable Hospitality Alliance also took the floor.
Following high-level discussions, 52 governments signed the COP29 Declaration for increased climate action in tourism.
Measurement, Decarbonisation, Adaptation, Regeneration, Finance, Innovation
High-level roundtables brought together experts from academia, policymakers and the private sector to raise the tourism sector’s climate ambition. UN Tourism Executive Director Zoritsa Urosevic presented the UN Statistical Framework for Measuring Tourism Sustainability as a key tool to boost the sector’s climate action ambitions. Innovation in climate finance was also addressed in a keynote presentation.
Carbon measurement was discussed at four levels: at the global level, to understand the magnitude of the challenge; at the country level, to inform tourism policies and align them with climate goals; at the business level, to ensure accountability for change; and at the product labelling level, to empower consumers to make informed and sustainable choices. While scaling up measurement efforts offers opportunities for evidence-based action, experts highlighted challenges such as the limits of technology-driven improvements, the need for innovative business models, and the critical role of behavioural change.
Discussions on adaptation and regeneration highlighted the potential of tourism to foster climate adaptation and regeneration strategies, and underlined the need for scalable financing mechanisms, innovative financial instruments and collaborative approaches. Educational interventions and strategies that support transitions towards sustainability were showcased. Altogether, several examples of innovation and collaboration illustrated how decarbonisation can be linked to finance, adaptation strategies can be science-based and climate action plans can inform change.
New signatories of the Glasgow Declaration Initiative
The Glasgow Declaration Initiative continues to move forward with more than 370 action plans already developed by its 900 signatories. The main findings of the Glasgow Declaration 2024 Implementation Report were released at COP29, including:
74% of signatories with climate plans are measuring
92% of plans include decarbonisation actions
73% of plans include actions related to biodiversity protection
41% of plans include climate adaptation actions
29% of plans refer to climate justice
82% of signatories with plans report working in partnership with others
44% of plans include financial actions and this path remains a challenge
During COP29, the State Agency for Tourism of Azerbaijan and Minor International signed the Glasgow Declaration and 58 new signatories were announced, including Destination Canada, the Department of Tourism of Samarkand Region (Uzbekistan), HOTREC (European Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés), among others.
Towards climate-resilient tourism development
With the aim of laying the groundwork for a global coordination mechanism and partnership platform, UN Tourism and the State Agency for Tourism of Azerbaijan signed the Letter of Intent to create a framework for its establishment. The partnership will ensure the continuation of the process until COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in 2025, and the continuation of COP28, as well as to support the transformation of the tourism sector so that it can be part of a sustainable, resilient and low-carbon future.
Source: UN Tourism.