UN Tourism Committee discusses Sustainability and Climate action initiatives

The UN's Committee on Tourism and Sustainability (CTS) recently convened for a two-day meeting, including 140 policymakers and experts from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Europe, and the Americas to address sustainability challenges in the rapidly growing tourism sector. Over two days of in-depth discussions, participants explored how to balance growth with inclusiveness and sustainability, with projections estimating 35 billion domestic, same-day, and international tourists by 2030.

UN Tourism Executive Director Zoritsa Urosevic emphasised the significance of the meeting, noting, "This is the first time that the committee has met for two days to reflect and deeply discuss strategic topics for a science based global tourism agenda, its sustainability, and future resilience."

William Rodríguez, Costa Rica's Minister of Tourism, added, "Costa Rica is honoured to host the representatives of the UN Tourism's Committee on Tourism and Sustainability. We see it as a great challenge to lead discussions on issues that are so relevant to the environmental, social, and economic future of the member countries, always striving for tourism to follow a model of sustainable, inclusive, and innovative management, as promoted by our country."

Key Focus Areas
Climate Action and Circularity - It took the centre stage, with participants welcoming the inclusion of tourism in the COP29 climate agenda. The discussions reviewed progress on the Glasgow Declaration, focussing on measuring and mitigating tourism-related greenhouse gas emissions, climate adaptation strategies, and future actions. The concept of Nature-Positive Tourism was coined up, stressing ecosystem restoration and protection as key priorities for emerging destinations. The Nature Positive Tourism Alliance’s work was highlighted as an important framework for centering nature in tourism policies.

Green Claims and Certifications - This was another focal point, with discussions addressing the challenges posed by varying certification systems, particularly in light of European Commission directives. The importance of consistent, globally recognized standards was emphasised.

Inspiration from Global Practices - Costa Rica’s Social Progress Index (SPI) was showcased as a model for aligning tourism growth with nature-positive principles. Fiji’s efforts to integrate the Climate Change Act into tourism operations and Iceland’s smart tourism management approach, which balances growth with sustainability, were also presented as leading examples of how tourism can drive prosperity while protecting natural and cultural heritage.