SU'VO'T''shaping tomorrows tourism in a sustainable manner

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• SU.VO.T..shaping tomorrows tourism in a
  sustainable manner

SU.VO.T Conference Rimini, Italy 24 November 2007
Kirsten Wolfrath Project Coordinator,
ITC ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability
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SU.VO.T

• Tourism is a vital economic factor
• natural resources cultural resources values
  of tourists
• Destinations need to adapt to changing
  environments
• climate change behaviour patterns

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The climate is changing!

• Scientific evidence urges action
• climate change will impact
• water resources
• temperatures
• ecosystems biodiversity
• agriculture
• energy production
• tourism
• ...

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Global warming - a changing climate

• Fourth Assessment Report of the International
  Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) published February
  2007 on science of climate change.
• Consensus most of warming since mid-20th century
  is due to human activities.
• Over the last 200 years, the amount of carbon
  dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere (major gas that
  causes climate change) has increased by 30.
• This and other gases stop some of the Earths
  radiation from escaping to space (greenhouse
  effect). Result Earth warms up, mainly due to
  burning of coal, gas and oil (human energy
  needs).
• (Role of IPCC To assess scientific basis of the
  risk of
• human-induced climate change, its potential
  impacts and options for adaptation and
  mitigation).

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What is happening now?

• Temperature increase
• 10 hottest years on record since 1991.
• Temperatures have risen by 0,6 in the past
  century.
• Oceans have warmed down to 3,000 metres.
• Mountain glaciers and snow cover have declined.
• Arctic ice cover is shrinking in depth and in
  extent.
• Satellites have seen an acceleration in sea
  level rise (10 - 20 cm
• during the 20th century).
• Lengthening of growing seasons.
• More extremes in weather patterns and changing
  precipitation
• More intense and longer droughts have been
  recorded.
• More intense rainfall.
• 150 million people affected by floods worldwide
  (7 million in 60s).
• Source IPCC 2007

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City Analogues
HadRM3H-model
Source PRUDENCE (Christensen et al, 2002) EU 5FP
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Climate change Principal Environmental Problems
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Tomorrow different from today?

• Probable temperature rise by end of 21st century
  1.8 - 4C possible 1.1 and 6.4C.
• Sea levels are likely to rise by 28-43cm (several
  meters?).
• Arctic summer sea ice likely to disappear 2nd
  half of century.
• Climate instability and extremes Very likely
  that parts of the world will see an increase in
  the number of heat-waves Likely increased
  intensity of tropical storms.
• Changing ecosystems

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Impact on European Regions

• Southern South Eastern Europe
• droughts, heat waves, forest fires, biodiversity
  loss..
• Tourist resorts may become too hot for summer
  holidays
• - shift to spring autumn?
• Western Atlantic Europe
• more extreme eventsstormfloods, dryer hotter
  summers
• Mountains summer holidays could become more
  attractive but unlikely to compensate for losses
  of the skiing industry
• Central Europe
• increased risk of floods could threaten houses
  infrastructure
• Northern Europe
• longer growing seasons, but maybe new diseases,
  Baltic Sea may be affected from algal bloom and
  pollution

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Time and cost

• These impacts on resources will significantly
  affect key economic activities Tourism
• Climate change is non-linear in character
  non-action today means serious impact later on.
• Very limited timeframe in which to act 13 years
  (countdown ...)
• Consider the impact on communities
  bio-diversity (fauna and flora already
  endangered), citizens, infrastructure, food
  crops, ...
• Consider the cost inaction / delayed action /
  acting now
• Cheaper to act now - Stern Report.

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Time to adapt

• Climate change mitigation should remain a
  priority
• Energy water saving and efficiency
• Renewables economic consequences - competitive
  advantage
• Set ambitious targets for tourism enterprises
  resources use
• Urgent need to develop strategies for adaptation
  to the already
• inevitable climate changes working groups
• A successful adaptation strategy needs a common
  integrated
• approach
• Sustainable Tourism management needs to be
  integrated into
• governance management structures for the
  sustainability plan of
• your city

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Action in diverse areas needed
Reduce energy water consumption Use energy
efficiency measures Change to renewable energy
(RE)
Sustainable transport green fleets, good public
transport, support for pedestrians and cyclists.
Reduce and recycle waste
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A common integrated approach
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Truly sustainable tourism

• Adaptation can only be achieved in the tourism
  industry if it becomes more sustainable.
• Make sector more resilient to changes in climatic
  conditions resources
• Implementation of efficient use of resources
• Diversification of tourism activities (SU.VO.T)
• increase awareness and foster necessary
  behavioural change
• tourists enterprises

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More intensive cooperation

• More intensive co-operation common action using
  existing
• mechanism
• The Network of Cities for Sustainable Tourism
• European Network of regions for a sustainable
  and competitive tourism ..

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ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability

• International Local Government Association (LGO)
  Environment Protection and Sustainable
  Development
• More than 600 members in 66 countries, e.g.
  Berlin, London, Bursa, Barcelona, New York,
  Buenos Aires, Johannesburg, Delhi, Sydney,
  Kyoto,...
• Climate Protection, REnergy, Water management,
  Local Agenda 21, Sustainable Purchasing ...
• Lead organisation representing local governments
  at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP),
  e.g. Bali 2007.

Cities interact with international agencies
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Conclusion

• The clock is ticking. We can still avoid
  dangerous climate change, although it is too late
  for some species.
• How much longer will be say Urgent action is
  needed, and wait for others to take the lead?
  Take the lead at local level.
• How? Obtain cross-party political consensus to
  ensure continuity on climate protection
  priorities and action (develop a short to
  long-term vision). Link up to networks and
  actions that address mitigation and adaptation.
  We offer you ICLEI and the CCP Campaign.
• Decide to do something, plan how to do it, and do
  it. Now would be a good time ...