Jejak Karbon Pariwisata Global: Seruan untuk Pariwisata Berkelanjutan - OSCARLIVING

May 15, 2025

'Global Tourism Carbon Footprint: A Call for Sustainable Tourism'

Global tourism has become the backbone of the modern economy, contributing trillions of dollars each year. However, the environmental costs generated are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Recent research highlights the need for this sector to align with the climate goals of the Paris Agreement, revealing the main causes of tourism-related carbon emissions and potential steps towards sustainable tourism practices.

Key Findings on Carbon Emissions in Tourism

Rapid Growth of Tourism Emissions

From 2009 to 2019, global tourism emissions increased by 3.5% per year, reaching 5.2 gigatons of CO2 equivalent (Gt CO2-e) in 2019. This figure is double the growth of the global economy, making tourism account for 8.8% of total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Main Causes of Emissions

Demand Growth: Tourism consumption increased by 5.5% per year in nominal value during the study period, driven by increased income, travel frequency, and spending on carbon-intensive activities.
Slow Technological Progress: Energy efficiency improvements were only able to offset emissions by 0.5 Gt CO2-e during that decade, far behind the growth in demand.
Transportation Impact: Aviation contributed 52% of direct emissions in 2019, with land transportation contributing an additional 18%.
Economic Inequality: High-income countries dominate global tourism emissions, with the top 20 emitting countries contributing three-quarters of the total carbon footprint of this sector.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The pandemic temporarily reduced global tourism emissions to 2.2 Gt CO2-e in 2020 due to travel restrictions, providing a real picture of this sector's contribution to global emissions.

Challenges in Tourism Decarbonization

Carbon Intensive Sector

"The dependence of tourism on energy-intensive flights, land transport, and accommodation makes decarbonization very challenging. Despite progress in the adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy, aviation remains a major hurdle, with technological and regulatory barriers slowing the transition to sustainable fuels."

Emissions Gap

The carbon footprint of tourism per capita varies significantly between high-income and low-income countries. Wealthier countries and individuals disproportionately contribute to the carbon footprint of tourism, highlighting the need for equitable mitigation strategies.

Policy and Industry Response

Initiatives such as Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism And net-zero roadmap from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) 'aimed at addressing this challenge. However, this effort places more emphasis on technological efficiency, which alone cannot keep pace with the rapid growth of tourism demand.'

The Road to a Carbon-Free Future: Sustainable Tourism

Setting Demand Threshold

Reducing tourism volume, especially in activities that generate high emissions such as long-haul flights, is very important. Policies such as carbon taxes, alternative fuel mandates, and restrictions on air travel can help reduce emissions.

Investing in Green Technology

Expanding renewable energy infrastructure and accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles is crucial for reducing emissions in utilities and transportation related to tourism.

Encouraging Sustainable Tourism Standards

Certification and programs provide a framework to reduce the environmental impact of tourism:

Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Standards: Focusing on sustainability management, social equity, and environmental impact.
EarthCheck Certification: Supporting destinations and businesses to achieve energy conservation, waste reduction, and biodiversity protection.
LEED for Hospitality: Encouraging energy-efficient and environmentally friendly building designs.
Biosphere Tourism Certification: Addressing climate change, cultural preservation, and sustainable economic development.

Supporting Vulnerable Destinations

Low-income countries and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change on tourism. Financial and technical assistance is crucial for this region to adapt to changing tourism patterns and environmental challenges.

Best Practice Example

High-Value, Low-Impact Tourism Policy of Bhutan: Limiting the number of visitors while ensuring economic benefits for the local community.
Sustainable Tourism Model of Costa Rica: Combining the use of renewable energy with the principles of ecotourism and biodiversity conservation.

Vision for the Future

The trajectory of the tourism sector is currently not aligned with global climate goals. Transformative changes are needed to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. Building and adhering to global sustainable tourism and hospitality standards offers a pathway to reduce the tourism carbon footprint while enhancing destination resilience.

Source : Peterson Indonesia

#Indonesiaemas #lebaran2025 #oscarliving #belanjafurniturejadimudah #OLIV #PToscarmitrasuksessejahteratbk #Indonesia #ekonomiindonesia #sustainability #ekonomiindonesia #dayabelilemah #2025 #Karbon #IDXCarbon #IDX #OJK #bursakarbonindonesia #energiterbarukan #ekonomihijau #perdagangankarbon #jejakkarbon #jejakkarbonpariwisata #pariwisataberkelanjutan #pariwisataindonesia #ekonomiberkelanjutan