Tourism’s Role in Climate Action Highlighted at COP29

For the first time in history, the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) will focus on the tourism sector’s role in global climate action. The event, scheduled for November 20 in Baku, Azerbaijan, will see Tourism Ministers join the dialogue, highlighting the sector’s significance in climate action.

This opportunity was facilitated by the combined efforts of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). It also reflects the shift towards a science-based approach in guiding the tourism sector on climate action, building on the Glasgow Declaration Initiative and the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme.

On November 20, the First Ministerial Meeting on Climate Action in Tourism will take place, followed by three high-level roundtables on measurement and decarbonization, regeneration (adaptation), and finance and innovative solutions. These discussions aim to create a robust tourism climate agenda.

The Baku Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism will also be launched at COP29. This declaration is a call to action for developing more comprehensive Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement. Government representatives will be encouraged to endorse the declaration and align their tourism policies with national climate goals and the UN Climate Change Agenda.

Two flagship sustainability initiatives of UN Tourism will be featured during Thematic Day. The Glasgow Declaration Initiative on Climate Action in Tourism, a voluntary commitment launched at COP26, will seek additional signatories. The Initiative focuses on supporting the implementation of national climate policies through five strategic pathways.

Also, the UN-adopted Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (MST) will be formally recognized as the tool for measuring the sector’s climate action impacts. Beyond GDP, the MST Framework includes environmental data like greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, providing reliable data on tourism’s impact on climate change.

Plans to enhance climate action in tourism will continue post-COP29, with discussions around a coordination mechanism and partnership led by UN Tourism. This partnership aims for a science-based agenda for positive impact involving the UN System, multilateral partners, industry, academia, and other stakeholders.