Home Publisher's Point of View WTTC: Travel & Tourism Sector Emissions Less Than Previously Believed

WTTC: Travel & Tourism Sector Emissions Less Than Previously Believed

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New data unveiled by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) show the Travel & Tourism sector is not contributing what it was once thought to be contributing to the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions total. Previous estimates have suggested that the global Travel & Tourism sector was responsible for up to 11 percent of all emissions. However, WTTC’s Environmental & Social Research (ESR) shows that in 2019 the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions totaled just 8.1 percent globally. That 8.1 percent is a big “just” but good news nevertheless—but certainly not reason to slow efforts to improve efficiency.

According to WTTC, emissions have been falling consistently since 2010 as the result of technological developments, as well as the introduction of several energy efficiency measures across industries within the sector. Between 2010 and 2019 the sector’s GDP grew on average 4.3 percent annually while its environmental footprint only increased by 2.4 percent.

The findings were launched at WTTC’s 22nd Global Summit in Riyadh by WTTC and the Saudi-based Sustainable Global Tourism Center. This comprehensive research covers 185 countries across all regions and will be updated each year with the latest figures.

Social Data Also Included in Research

Ongoing ESR will include measures of the sector’s impact against a range of indicators, including pollutants, energy sources, water use, as well as social data, including age, wage and gender profiles of Travel & Tourism related employment. WTTC will continue to announce new data on how the sector fares against these indicators throughout 2023.

Julia Simpson, President & CEO of WTTC, said, “Until now we did not have a sector-wide way to accurately measure our climate footprint. This data will give governments the detailed information they need to make progress against the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Travel & Tourism is making huge strides to decarbonize, but governments must set the framework. We need a steely focus on increasing the production of sustainable aviation fuels with government incentives. The technology exists. We also need greater use of renewable energy in our national grids—so when we turn on a light in a hotel room, it is using a sustainable energy source.”

Many governments around the world are making significant sustainable energy advancements. For example, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) provided almost 23 percent of the United States’ electrical generation during the first three-quarters of 2022. Yet, the U.S. easily ranks No. 2 among the top five producers of emissions, as of 2019: China, U.S., India, Russia, Japan. The world’s top five leaders in renewable energy production, as a percentage of their own country’s energy production: Sweden, Costa Rica, Scotland, Iceland and Germany.

Kudos to WTTC for this groundbreaking research and for committing to continue it for years to come.

Green Lodging News Adds World Amenities as Founding Sponsor

Green Lodging News has added World Amenities as a Founding Sponsor at the Bronze level. Founded in 2015, World Amenities, an Inc. 5000 company, is a leading global manufacturer of environmentally friendly, recyclable, and biodegradable quality luxe skincare-based brands, custom amenities, bulk liquids, dispensers, and necessities. It brings over 20 years of experience in the innovation, production, and distribution of advanced skincare and cosmetic brands to more than 70 global markets in 40,000 plus hotels, salons, spas, and medical and educational sites.

World Amenities has five distribution centers and uniquely designs, formulates, customizes, and manufactures each personal care guestroom amenity, with artisanal skills and cosmetic-quality ingredients. Incorporating EcoPure biodegradable technology, World Amenities produces and distributes FDA-approved and certified vegan and cruelty-free skincare brands—with the majority of products and packaging made in North America.

World Amenities’ MAGNETIX Dispensing system is a fully integrated lockable, 100 percent enclosed, tamper-proof dispensing system with a no-drip design. Bottles are 100 percent recyclable, fully customizable, and come in two stock lines.

Contact World Amenities at (800) 783-9969 to speak with an account executive. E-mail sales@worldamenities.com and mention you saw World Amenities in Green Lodging News and receive free skincare-based samples.

Green Lodging News Adds REV Energy Ventures Case Study to Website

Green Lodging News has added a REV Energy Ventures case study to its website. The case study details how REV Energy Ventures worked with Host Hotels & Resorts to develop and implement a corporate renewable energy strategy to increase onsite solar PV across Host’s U.S. portfolio.

Since 2011, REV performed high level portfolio analysis to identify solar opportunities and in-depth feasibility assessments on over 100 hotel properties. The assessments enabled Host to invest approximately $17M in solar projects in Hawaii, Arizona and Washington, D.C. where REV provided turnkey services managing the whole project development lifecycle.

REV continues to identify renewable energy opportunities to support Host’s progress against its renewable energy target of 30 percent by 2025.

In one example in the case study, REV Energy Ventures describes how it was able to coordinate a 708-kilowatt solar installation at Hyatt Regency Maui. Over 25 years, the installation is projected to produce $15 million in savings.

Call (720) 722-1250, e-mail info@revenergyventures.com, or go to www.revenergyventures.com for more information.

Who is Your Sustainability Champion?

Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Looking for Guest Columnists

Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers, and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Get in the Green Suppliers Spotlight!

Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes Green Suppliers Spotlight, an e-blast to 19,356 subscribers that features the lodging industry’s leading green products and services. The e-blast features multiple vendors—unlike the current Green Supplier Spotlight that allows one supplier to “own” the Green Lodging News subscriber list for one e-blast. (Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample.)

Green Suppliers Spotlight is published weekly on Thursdays to general managers, owners, management companies, directors of sustainability, directors of engineering, facilities managers and many others who are either in purchasing positions or who influence purchasing decisions. Suppliers of green products and services throughout North America and beyond are invited to participate in the e-blast. (Minimum two suppliers per e-blast.) Green Suppliers Spotlight was created to give vendors an opportunity to reach a high number of industry purchasers at a very low cost—as low as $200 per e-mail. (Click here for rate sheet.)

Those advertising in Green Suppliers Spotlight can include up to 100 words, one image, contact information and multiple links to their website in their ad. At the end of each week, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.

Planning Advertising for the Remainder of 2022, or 2023?

Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for the final quarter of 2022 and into 2023. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2022 or 2023 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.

Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation

The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 19,356. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.

Green Lodging News & Social Media

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As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

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