Tourism: facing the challenge of climate...
Transcript of Tourism: facing the challenge of climate...
facing the challenge of climate change
International tourism is the largest and most rapidly expanding
industry in the world. Many of the most
popular tourist destinations depend
heavily on the natural environment for
their appeal: coastal resorts, tropical
rainforests, wildlife safaris and alpine ski
resorts, for example, all rely on a mixture
of natural beauty, good weather and safe
conditions to attract holiday-makers.
Whether you prefer a package deal,
an exotic “no news-no shoes” adventure,
skiing, winter sunshine or ecotourism,
holidays have become an essential part
of our lives. In the UK they are one of
our most costly items of expenditure,
with an average package holiday at home
costing 70p per household per week,
and £8.10 per household per week for
a package holiday overseas. As well as
the more popular short-haul flights –
for example to Spain, Greece and Turkey
– more tourists are now flocking to long-
haul destinations.
many of the most popular tourist destinations depend heavily on the natural environment for their appeal
J M
AIER
, STI
LL P
ICTU
RES
The tourism industry’s heavy reliance
on the local environment to sell holidays
means that it could face serious challenges
as a result of climate change. Global
and regional temperatures are rising.
The hottest year of the millennium was
1998 and the 1990s was the warmest
decade. Climate models suggest a future
warming of 0.2 – 0.3°C per decade and
sea-levels are expected to rise at a rate of
4 to 10cm per decade. While the impacts
of global warming on tourism will vary,
it is already clear that small island states
such as the Maldives in the Indian Ocean,
an increasingly popular tourist destination,
will be particularly vulnerable to sea-
level rise.
Climate change is also expected to
increase the risk of illness in several parts
of the world and this may lead to a falling-
o∆ of tourism. More frequent periods
of extreme heat will cause discomfort
in many eastern Mediterranean resorts,
where the number of days above 40°C
is expected to increase. A decline in cloud
cover in Australia will increase exposure
to the sun’s harmful rays and malaria
is likely to re-emerge in Spain, the most
popular destination for British package
holiday-makers.
Winter tourism may also be a∆ected,
as the Alps and other European skiing
destinations experience less snowfall and
shorter skiing seasons. These impacts will
be especially pronounced in lower-lying
ski resorts such as Kitzbühel in Austria,
and in places where commercial ventures
are already marginal, such as the Scottish
Highlands.
Tour operators and countries that rely
on tourism for foreign revenue will need
to take into account the potential impacts
of climate change when planning new
resorts or upgrading their present facilities.
Facing the challenge of climate change
the hottest year of the millennium was 1998 and the 1990s was the warmest decade
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Tourism is not just a potential victim
of global warming: it also contributes to
the causes of climate change. For example,
air travel is the fastest growing source
of greenhouse gas emissions and therefore
increases the risk of continued global
warming. From 594 million international
travellers in 1996, numbers are forecast
to leap to 702 million by next year, 1,018
million by 2010 and 1,600 million in
2020. As a consequence, the role of air
travel within the industry is also likely
to expand and cause considerable
environmental damage.
from 594 million international travellers in 1996, numbers are forecast to leap to 702 million by next year
Tourism – part of the problem
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a total of 396,000 tourists visited the islands in 1998
The Maldives The Maldives are an archipelago of
about 1,190 coral atolls which themselves
comprise numerous small islands, of which
nearly 200 are inhabited. The climate
is hot and humid, and the Maldives’
relatively empty, palm-fringed beaches
make the area a paradise destination for
more and more European tourists. The
islands’ attractions also include multi-
coloured coral formations spread
throughout 74 island resorts.
During the 1980s, tourism in the
Maldives became one of the most
important and highest growth sectors of
the economy. It is now the backbone of
the economy, accounting for about 18 per
cent of GDP and more than 60 per cent of
foreign exchange receipts. Over 90 per cent
of government tax revenue comes from
import duties and tourism-related taxes.
A total of 396,000 tourists visited the
islands in 1998, of which 85 per cent were
from western Europe. The UK is the third
most important source region after
Germany and Italy.
Rising seasThe low elevation of the Maldives makes
the archipelago extremely vulnerable to
sea level rise. Many of the islands are less
than one metre above sea-level. As the
world’s oceans heat up, they expand – and
this causes sea levels to rise between 4cm
and 10cm every 10 years. At best, a rise
in sea level would cause coastal erosion
in the Maldives, and at worst a sizeable
proportion of the landmass could become
submerged over the next 30 years.
The higher the sea level, the more
frequently these small islands will be
overwashed by storms. The consequent
dangers of salt water intruding into local
aquifers may lead to many islands
becoming uninhabitable. This unique
archipelago, which many tourists view
as the ultimate “get-away-from-it-all”
location, could soon become quite literally
out of reach.
Threatened coral reefsThe islands of the Maldives are founded
upon natural coral reefs that have built
up around the rim of a chain of ancient
volcanoes. The reefs provide protection
and stability to the islands, are home
to a great biological diversity of marine
ecosystems and have become a very
important tourist attraction. Warmer
oceans, as well as higher CO2 concen-
trations in the water, already constitute
a real threat to the reefs.
In 1997 and 1998, sea surface
temperatures were the highest on record.
The coral bleaching associated with this
rise impacted on almost all species of coral,
and had a devastating e∆ect on the reefs.
Tourism is expected to double in the near
future. Forty per cent of tourists visiting
the Maldives do so for diving experiences.
The total cost to the global economy of
losing 58 per cent of the world’s coral
reefs has been estimated as $140 billion
and the costs for the Maldives would
be considerable.
C HA
RVEY
, WW
F-UK
H CL
ARK,
WW
F-UK
tourism is important to the economy of Alpine countries
The AlpsThe Alps are not only one of the primary
European winter holiday destinations for
skiers, but are also a popular destination
for summer walking holidays. The
mountains are located between temperate
latitudes and the Mediterranean
subtropics, and between oceanic and
continental Europe. They exhibit a great
range of climatic conditions, with virtually
every Alpine valley having a unique local
climate. Although temperate, the Alps
become very cold in winter because of
the high altitude.
Tourism is important to the economy
of many Alpine countries. For example,
it is Austria’s largest industry, accounting
for 7.4 per cent of GDP in 1997 – the
highest share among all OECD countries.
However, the industry has been in decline
for the past five years. Similarly, winter
tourism in the Swiss Alps has endured
several consecutive years of losses.
The threat to low-lying resortsIt is expected that as temperatures rise,
there will be a considerable shortening
of the snow season as well as reduced
snowfall. In many areas
this reduction may be as
much as 30 per cent by
the 2020s and more than
50 per cent by the 2050s.
Models of snow cover
duration and a set of
regional climate change
scenarios show a decline
in the number of days
of snow cover, especially
for low-altitude resorts
(less than 1,400m).
Examples include Garmisch-
Partenkirchen, Bavaria’s best-known ski
resort, and Kitzbühel, an Austrian resort
particularly popular with British skiers.
By 2050 the period of complete snow
cover in Kitzbühel is expected to fall from
76 to 53 days in the winter, and from 24
to almost no days in the spring.
It is likely that higher-altitude ski resorts
will come under increasing pressure as
their lower-lying counterparts become less
commercially viable. Lower-lying resorts
are already having to diversify into other
holiday activities.
U CO
LLIE
R, W
WF-
UK
D SOUTHERN, WWF-UK
D S
OU
THER
N, W
WF-
UK
Greece and Turkey are extremely
popular tourist destinations. Greece
is a peninsular country with an
archipelago of about 2,000 islands,
some of which have seen extensive
tourist development. There, tourism
is one of the biggest foreign-exchange
earners. But growing competition from
newer and more exotic destinations
elsewhere in the world led to a fall
in visitor numbers in 1996 and 1997.
Turkey’s Aegean coastline is growing
in popularity, with a 30 per cent increase
in the number of visitors forecast for next
year. Tourists are attracted by the warm
spring and the hot, dry summer climate,
fine beaches and ancient monuments.
The heat is onGreece and Turkey
enjoy mild winters and
long hot summers, with
maximum temperatures
often exceeding 40°C. It
is likely that the mean
summer temperature
will rise by more than
4°C by the middle of
the 21st century. More frequent summer
temperatures above 40°C will reduce
personal comfort and could lead to more
heat stress and associated mortality.
Coinciding with school holidays,
August is the most popular month for
tourist travel to Greece and Turkey, but
climate change may alter that. Instead,
holiday-makers may opt to take their
breaks earlier or later in the year,
particularly since climate models suggest
that June in 2020 will be as warm as July,
August and September 2000. Alternatively,
people may simply travel elsewhere.
While beach resorts may still be
bearable thanks to sea breezes, Athens will
become decidedly uncomfortable. During
the last 20 years, the capital has endured
very high temperatures which have led to
many heat-stress incidents. Athens attracts
a large number of tourists, but fewer
people will want to go there in the summer
if temperatures rise even further and
sightseeing becomes a very uncomfortable
experience. Smog is another big problem,
not only in Athens but elsewhere in the
eastern Mediterranean during hot spells.
Other detrimental impacts are likely to
include further water supply restrictions
and forest fires.
climate models suggest that June in 2020 will be as warm as July, August and September 2000
The easternMediterranean
D LA
WSO
N, W
WF-
UK
C GU
ARIT
A, S
TILL
PIC
TURE
S
D LA
WSO
N, W
WF-
UK
South-eastern Spain
South-eastern Spain has some of the
most popular destinations for tourists
from the UK and other European
countries: Benidorm, Malaga and Marbella,
for example, on the south coast. Tourism
employs 9.5 per cent of the workforce in
Spain and is treated by the government as
a key economic sector with good prospects.
Spain’s climate at present provides
the ideal antidote to northern European
weather: warm summers, a lot of sunshine,
low rainfall and mild winters. But climate
change will bring with it a likely rise in
temperatures – for example, September
in 2050 may well be as warm as a present-
day July. The indications are that rainfall
will not change significantly, so the
summer months will remain very dry,
with a resulting pressure on water supply.
Malaria on the Spanish coastsSpain is a friendly, easily accessible, at
present no-risk destination. There is no
need for immunisation against diseases
such as malaria and
yellow fever – but malaria
has re-surfaced in Spain
and it is estimated that
changes in climate will
result in parts of the
country becoming
a suitable habitat for
particular species of
mosquito by the 2020s.
Malaria, the world’s
largest killer, is spread
by a number of mosquito
species that are extremely
temperature-dependent
with sharp thermal
gradients. At present the
mosquito and parasite are
found in north Africa –
not far away.
Other impacts of climate change
in Spain are likely to include flash floods,
heat stress and more forest fires. Forest
fires are a serious problem in the
Mediterranean basin.
Their environmental
consequences have
compelled coastal
countries to make
tremendous e∆orts
to prevent and
extinguish fires.
The worst situation
is precipitated by
hot, dry and windy
conditions, when fires become enormous
and dangerous. According to the Spanish
Forestry Service ICONA, between 1985
and 1994 almost 250,000 hectares were
burnt. In recent years following periods
of extreme dryness, the number of forest
fires has increased. Now, large areas of
forest and parkland may be closed o∆ to
summer visitors.
Spain is a friendly, easily accessible, no-risk destination
R WILMSHURST, FLPA
J PL
ANT,
WW
F-UK
B SILVESTRIS, FLPA
Scotland
Well-known for its mountains and scenery,
Scotland occupies about a third of
mainland Britain. Much of the UK’s
upland and highest peaks are in Scotland
but its weather is not high on the list of
tourist attractions. Indeed in a Scottish
Tourist Board survey, the weather was
listed as a major complaint.
However, tourism is one of Scotland’s
major industries. As an all year-round
destination, Scotland attracts tourists from
around the world as well as from all over
the UK. Tourism and leisure activities
significantly contribute to the country’s
economy, directly providing more than
155,000 jobs. Visitors come for winter
skiing, mountain climbing, hill walking,
water sports and golf.
Warmer weather and fewer frostsScotland’s weather, and in particular its
snowfall, is highly variable. In recent years,
an increase in the vigour and frequency
of westerly air currents has reduced the
frequency of winter frosts and days
with snow cover. In winter, there
has also been a reduction in the
mean daily hours of bright sunshine
in western regions. Future changes
in Scotland’s climate will result
in warmer summers and winters,
accompanied by a more active
hydrological cycle and increased
precipitation. Temperature trends
will govern whether this precipitation
falls as snow or rain.
The end of skiing in Scotland?While Scotland cannot compete with
the Alps as a destination for skiing
holidays, it is nevertheless popular
with British holiday-makers. The main
ski resorts are at Aonoch Mor, Glencoe,
Glenshee, the Lecht and Cairngorm.
Suµcient snow cover is far from certain
even in the present climate. If the warming
trend continues, the viability of the
Scottish skiing industry will undoubtedly
be at risk.
Estimates of increased rainfall will
impact upon other outdoor activities.
Hikers in Scotland already expect a certain
amount of rain but a further increase may
make potential hikers think twice about
heading north. It may well also make
golfing less attractive.
as an all year-round destination, Scotland attracts tourists from around the world
P J
BANK
S, W
WF-
UK
D GA
RCIA
, STI
LL P
ICTU
RES
The European LakesLakes such as those in Switzerland
and Hungary are the playground for
Europe’s water sports enthusiasts. Pleasure
cruising, canoeing, wind-surfing, water-
skiing and sailing facilities abound along
the shores of Lakes Geneva and Zürich in
Switzerland and Lake Batalon in Hungary.
More than 400,000 British tourists visited
Switzerland in 1998 and 3.2 million
people from all over the world visited
Zürich alone. The lakes are an important
source of tourism revenue.
Tourism has rapidly expanded in
Hungary and is now an important source
of income. Lake Batalon is not only the
largest freshwater lake in central and
eastern Europe, but it is also the most
important tourist destination in Hungary
after Budapest. In 1994 nearly 2.5 million
tourists took advantage of its boating,
bathing and fishing facilities and spent
more than half a million US dollars in
the process.
Feeling the heat on highHowever, the high-altitude locations that
make Europe’s large lakes so attractive
to tourists also make them extremely
vulnerable to climate change. This
phenomenon already threatens many
of the world’s freshwater ecosystems and
the wildlife and recreational activities
they support. Shallow lakes, such as Lake
Batalon which has an average depth of
two or three metres, respond quickly to
an increase in temperature. And current
climate models suggest that both
Switzerland and Hungary can expect
hotter and drier summers.
The resulting changes in water level
could have an adverse impact on the local
tourist industry. Fixed waterfront facilities
such as marinas will be particularly
vulnerable to any change in the level of
the lake. A decrease in water level coupled
with higher temperatures may result
in greater concentrations of pollution
including algal blooms along the shore
which could discourage water sports. Lakes
of all sizes could be a∆ected. Small rivers
and streams are also vulnerable and this
could have an impact on sports fishing
– angling being the most popular sport
in Britain, incidentally.
current climate models suggest that both Switzerland and Hungary can expect hotter and drier summers
B SI
LVES
TRIS
, FLP
A
D SO
UTHE
RN, W
WF-
UK
For many years the game parks of east
and South Africa have been popular tourist
destinations. Tourism is one of Kenya’s
top two foreign exchange earners: in
1993 nearly 1.5 million people visited
its national parks and game reserves and
half the earnings from its tourist industry
can be attributed to its wildlife. Tanzania
has a huge potential for wildlife-related
tourism, with nearly 26 per cent of its land
– including the world famous Serengeti
National Park – set aside as protected or
conservation areas. Meanwhile in South
Africa, tourism is the sector benefiting
the most from the end of apartheid with
overseas visitor numbers growing by
more than 50 per cent each year. Once
again, wildlife reserves are a chief
attraction for tourists.
These countries already have very
variable climates. Heavy rains and
droughts are not uncommon but there
has been an increase in the frequency
of droughts in the 1990s and a decrease
in rainfall during the past 20 years. These
changes in climate could have significant
impacts on the tourism industries of
Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa, which
depend on their wildlife populations.
Greater frequency of extreme weather
conditions such as flooding and droughts
could also have an impact on tourism,
as could subtle changes in the timing of
seasons. The wildlife of the Lake Manyara
National Park and the Masai Mara Game
Reserve is closely connected to the seasons.
More than 350 bird species found in Lake
Manyara National Park are seasonal
visitors. Changes in temperature, and to
the level and water quality of the lake as
a result of climate change, could alter the
migration and breeding patterns of birds
and other wildlife reliant on the lake.
Flamingos, for instance, have deserted
some habitats altogether. They are highly
sensitive to changes in environmental
conditions.
The annual migration of wildebeest,
zebra and antelope from Serengeti is
one of the main attractions of the Masai
Mara Game Reserve. As the distribution
of grass and vegetation changes with
altered patterns of rains, migration will
also shift. But migration patterns may
not be the only change. The distribution
of wildlife in general could alter as a
result of increased drought and changed
temperatures, potentially causing havoc
to Africa’s system of protected areas which
are based on wildlife distribution. Some
of the world’s already endangered animals
could face new pressures as they try to
move out of protected areas in search
of the right environment.
The infrastructure supporting these
tourist activities could also be put under
pressure. Heavy rains
and flooding can
already leave roads
and bridges in Lake
Manyara and Masai
Mara impassable. When
this happens, tourist
visits and revenue fall.
greater frequency of extreme weather conditions such as flooding and droughts could have an impact on tourism
East and South Africa
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GLAX
O, W
WF-
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AustraliaAustralia’s environment is one of
enormous variety. The rainforests in the
subtropical north give way to the often
parched Outback, which in turn submits to
the cooler regions of the south. Thanks to
its climate, Australia has enormous appeal
for anyone looking for an outdoor holiday.
The Great Barrier Reef, the Blue
Mountains, water sports and skiing in
the Australian Alps
attracted more than
four million tourists
in 1996, earning the
country some 11.5
billion Australian
dollars. This important
revenue earner also
employs around
700,000 people.
Tourism on the Great
Barrier Reef earns Queensland $1.5 billion
and next year is expected to break all
records as visitors arrive for the
millennium celebrations and the Sydney
2000 Olympic Games.
A continuing warming trend may have
several knock-on e∆ects in the Australian
tourist industry. For example, the country’s
snowfields are small and have a short
and variable season. The Australian Alps
presently enjoy a winter snow cover
lasting from a few weeks at the lower
elevation sites to up to four months at
the higher elevation ski resorts. This snow
cover supports major cross-country and
downhill skiing activities which could
be threatened if global warming reduces
natural snowfall. Australian ski resorts
could lose 44 per cent of their skiers if
winters with little natural snow became
more common. And it is not only winter
sports that could be a∆ected. Australia’s
only alpine and sub-alpine mammal, the
mountain pygmy possum, is already
endangered and will be
put further at risk if its
habitats shrink further.
The Great Barrier
Reef, the world’s largest
coral reef, could also
feel the heat. Recent
scientific reports
suggest that coral
bleaching is linked to
global warming. This would be
catastrophic for its tropical marine
ecosystems and the tourist industry
built around them.
Australia – a health warningSome health impacts of climate change
in Australia will be immediate – not
least death or illness due to heatwaves
or bushfires. Other health impacts such
as a rise in insect-borne diseases may
become more common. And as cloud
cover decreases, there will be increased
exposure to harmful ultra-violet rays
which cause skin cancer.
thanks to its climate, Australia has enormous appeal for anyone looking for an outdoor holiday
M R
AUTK
ARI,
WW
F-UK
D SOUTHERN, WWF-UK
N M
ORRI
SON,
WW
F-UK
Tourism is the second largest industry
in the US, contributing $746 billion to
the economy and employing 14.4 million
people a year. America’s coastal states are
the biggest attractions, earning 85 per cent
of tourism revenue. Tourism is Florida’s
biggest industry, thanks to its warm
climate and fine beaches which attract
tourists all year round. The Keys are a
particular mecca, while the Everglades and
Ten Thousand Islands attract ecotourists.
Tourists to Florida’s reefs contribute $1.6
billion annually to the economy. Florida
is the number one long-haul destination
for UK holiday-makers and in 1997,
1.3 million Britons visited the state.
In Maryland, Barrier Islands such as
the Assateague are essentially recreational
communities. The Assateague, an unin-
habited island created by sand, hosts
legendary herds of wild horses which roam
the marshlands. The Atlantic coasts of
Delaware and Maryland o∆er swimming,
sunbathing, surf fishing, boating, deep sea
fishing, surfing, skimboarding, dolphin
watching and walking. But this area may
be threatened by sea-level rise, erosion
and storm damage on the ocean side
and warming waters on the side facing the
coast. Coastal wetlands are already eroding
in Maryland and beach “re-nourishment”
– the replacement of large
quantities of sand – has
been prominent in heavily
developed areas such
as Ocean City.
Sea-level rise may be of
particular concern to Florida,
since so much recreational
and tourist activity is
concentrated along its coasts,
beaches and islands – many of which
are vulnerable to erosion. A number
of ecologically important wetlands, such
as the Everglades and some coastal areas,
may also be under considerable threat.
Coral bleaching caused by warmer seas
may also have a major adverse impact
on Florida’s big money-earner.
Florida is the number one long-haul destination for UK holiday-makers
Florida and the south-east coastline of the USH
D BR
ANDL
, FLP
A
G MARCOALDI, FLPA
DIGITAL VISION 118066
Brazil
Brazil’s dense tropical rainforest and
famous beaches, such as the Copacabana
in Rio de Janeiro, are proving increasingly
popular with the world’s holiday-makers.
Tourism generated $12 billion in 1997,
two-thirds coming from domestic
travellers, and it is widely regarded as the
economic sector with the most promising
future. About 3.5 million foreigners visited
Brazil in 1998, a figure that is growing
by seven per cent a year.
Outside Rio, other attractions are the
Iguaçu Falls, the tropical forest of the
Amazon Basin, the wildlife of the Panatela
and the beaches
of Salvador, Natal
and Fortaleza in
the north-east
coastal area. Brazil
recently launched
a $200 million
programme to
develop ecological
tourism in the Amazon and while
ecotourism is seen as a novelty, its
potential in Brazil is enormous. Only
1 per cent of the country’s vast potential
is being explored. The Amazon region
accounts for around 60 per cent of that
potential, followed by the Pantanal
wetlands in the centre-west of Brazil.
Brazil’s rainforests are already under
serious threat from deforestation, and
climate change could cause further stress
to this delicate and threatened ecosystem.
Recent climate modelling suggests that
increases in temperature, coupled with
reduced rainfall, would see a considerable
reduction in the rainforest region of
Amazonia. These models do not take into
account the continuing forest degradation
caused by logging. A loss of this magnitude
and disturbance to the natural ecosystem
could have profound e∆ects on the
biodiversity of Amazonia and the
surrounding regions.
Brazil’s dense tropical rainforest and famous beaches are increasingly popular with the world’s holiday-makers
N M
ORRI
SON,
WW
F-UK
E PA
RKER
, WW
F-UK
N MORRISON, WWF-UK
WWF works to reconcile the needs of people with the conservation of the natural environment upon which they depend
WWF believes that urgent action must
be taken now by governments, individuals,
business and industry – including the
tourism industry – to reduce the threat
of global warming. WWF works to
improve the environment, and campaigns
for governments worldwide to meet, and
ideally go beyond, the commitments they
made at the Kyoto climate change summit
in 1997.
As one of the world’s
largest industries,
and one that heavily
depends on the climate
and environment for
its success, the tourism
industry itself must
take action to reduce
its contribution to
global greenhouse gas
emissions. For example,
improving the energy eµciency of
buildings in existing and newly-built
resorts, and where possible using
electricity from renewable energy supplies,
would make a di∆erence. Transport to,
from and around resorts is another key
area where changes can be made, and
operators should be encouraged to
incorporate public transport and cycling
infrastructures into their resort plans.
In the UK, WWF lobbies the government
to take immediate action to implement
policies and measures to meet its target of
a 20 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions
by 2010.
We believe that the following actions will
help that target to be reached:
■ Changes to the UK’s energy policy must
be introduced, so that a shift takes place
from fossil fuels to renewable sources
of energy such as wind, sea and solar
power. This will need to be coupled with
changes to planning procedures and
laws, so that more opportunities for
renewable energy sources can be
developed.
■ Energy companies should be required
to obtain an increasing proportion of
their supply from renewable sources,
and to o∆er more comprehensive
energy eµciency programmes to
their customers.
■ The proposed climate change levy
– a business energy tax – should
be introduced swiftly. A substantial
proportion of the proceeds should
be used to provide energy eµciency
incentives to small and medium-sized
enterprises.
■ More stringent eµciency standards
and a compulsory energy rating scheme
should be employed in the building
sector.
■ Substantial new investment in
public transport is imperative, together
with a much improved infrastructure
for cyclists and pedestrians. Road
and car parking charges should help
finance this.
■ Support needs to be created for an inter-
national (or at least a European Union)
aviation fuel tax.
■ The issue of comparatively low energy
prices in the UK domestic sector needs
to be addressed because these are a
deterrent to energy eµciency improve-
ments. A domestic energy levy could
be used to provide energy eµciency
incentives. Low-income families could
be given compensatory payments to
avoid negative social impacts.
■ VAT should be reduced on all energy
eµciency materials.
WWF’s recommendations
M J
ACKS
ON, S
TILL
PIC
TURE
S
D JONES, WWF-UK
the tourism industry itself must take action to reduce its contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions
WWF-UK
Panda House
Weyside Park
Godalming
Surrey GU7 1XR
Telephone: 01483 426444
Fax: 01483 426409
Website: www.wwf-uk.org
This publication is based on
Climate change and its impactson tourism, a report prepared
for WWF-UK by David Viner
and Maureen Agnew, Climatic
Research Unit, University of
East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ
July 1999
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UKWWF aims to conserve nature and
ecological processes by:
■ preserving genetic, species andecosystem diversity;
■ ensuring that the use of renewableresources is sustainable both nowand in the longer term, for the benefit of all life on Earth;
■ promoting actions to reduce pollution and the wasteful exploitation andconsumption of resources and energy.
WWF’s ultimate goal is to stop, andeventually reverse, the acceleratingdegradation of our planet’s naturalenvironment, and to help build a future inwhich humans live in harmony with nature.