BACKGROUND
Tourism depends on the natural environment. Climate changes are
making a substantial impact on travel. Likewise, travel contributes
to carbon emissions that alter the global environment. The relationships
among tourism, climate change, sustainability, biodiversity and
economic development are complex and until recently have not been
studied in depth.
WEB 1, 2, 3
Discussion takes place on the Planeta
Forum. We'll keep an eye on new Facebook and Flickr groups and
other quality resources on the Web.
OUTCOMES
We will be updating the Tourism and Climate Change guide on a
regular basis and will present an overview of critical issues, resources
and global action plans in presentations to be delivered at conferences.
WORKING NOTES
The issue of tourism and climatechange is clearly complicated,
but not without some practical actions, particularly from those
who are the forefront of ecotourism
and responsible
travel.
We have been talking about the environmental
impact of transportation for years and recently this topic is
making headline news.
Returning from the 2007 New
Zealand ecotourism conference it is interesting to note a growing
regional awareness that the growing eco mindset (not to mention
development of labels such as 'food miles') may push Oceania away
from travel planning of those in the Americas and Europe. It's easy
to see how this might affect tourism heading to Africa which is
worrying a number of operators on that continent.
The question is ... from the national tourism boards, ecotourism
associations and other leaders, what message is being sent out?
Are these institutions explaining to travelers why travel matters
and how to make the most of their trip?
The Planeta.com view is that long-haul transportation needs to be
supported and encouraged when it has a pro-social and pro-eco aim.
It could even be supported without the loftiest of lofty intents,
but we'd better be aware, conscientious, about the impact of our
actions or inaction.
As to individual 'carbon offsetting' -- it is akin to the papal
indulgences sold in the Middle Ages and beautifully spoofed by Cheat
Neutral.
QUOTABLE
We are going to prove that climate change action and economic prosperity
are not contradictions, but mutually dependent.
- Sigmar Gabriel
FEATURES
Climate
Weather
Environmental
Impact of Transportation
Climate Notebook
PLANETA FORUM
Climate
Carbon
Emission Offsetting
Tourism
and Climate Change Web Tour
GUIDELINES
FLICKR
beaches
ONLINE
FLICKR
WIKI
Climate - Planeta
Wikispace
How
green is your eco conference?
Carbon
footprint
Carbon
Neutral
ONLINE
WIKI
VIDEO
Interview
with Tim Flannery
VIDEO
ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB
A
Shift in the Debate Over Global Warming - New York Times
Keys
to climate protection - Scientific American
Melting
Away - New Zealand Listener
Ecotourism,
climate change, peak oil and flying - Ecoafrica
Ecotourism
and flying - Ecoafrica
Air
travel and global warming - Edward Hasbrouck
Been
there, done that, got the offset - Ottawa Citizen
Climate
Camp on Newsnight - YouTube
Greening
Air Travel - WorldChanging
Carbon
Output Must Near Zero To Avert Danger, New Studies Say - Washington
Post
Does
distance matter? - Independent
Changing
climate haunting tourism - IHT
ClimateXChange
Climate
Change and Australian Tourism (PDF)
The
economic effects of climate change - New Zealand Institute (PDF)
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
International Public Forum on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change:
The Tropical Australian Experience
Climate
change and indigenous peoples
Bridging
divides at climate change symposium - Indian Country Today
OFFSETS
Discretionary
Travel Endangers the Planet's Biodiversity - John Shores
Carbon
Offsets: Paying off Unsustainable Life Styles or Investing in Sustainability
- Michael Kaye
Carbon
Offsets are a Joke - Tim Leffel
The
Truth About Carbon Offsetting - Travel and Leisure
Cheat Neutral
Cheat
Neutral - YouTube
Can
you be traveling green by buying offsets? - USA Today
Climate
Change and Tourism: Assessment and Coping Strategies
Carbon
Conundrum - Don George
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