Tourism Makes History at COP29: Sector Mobilizes Around Climate Action

For the first time in UNFCCC COP history, COP29 in Baku featured a dedicated Tourism Day, marking a pivotal moment in recognizing tourism’s role in the climate agenda. The event included the inaugural First Ministerial Meeting on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism, aimed at aligning tourism policy with national climate goals. More than 700 stakeholders from across public and private sectors participated in the Tourism Day activities.

Governments Unite Around Climate Action in Tourism

The Ministerial was chaired by Mr. Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan, and attended by the COP29 President H.E. Mr. Mukhtar Babayev, UN Tourism, UNEP Executive Director Ms. Inger Andersen, and representatives from UNFCCC.

Both UN Tourism Secretary-General Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili and UNEP Executive Director Ms. Inger Andersen stressed the urgency of a science-based approach to sector decarbonization. New research by the University of Queensland (UN Tourism Affiliate Member) indicates that tourism contributes 8.8% of global GHG emissions (direct and indirect).

“For the first time, the Action Agenda of COP has included tourism. This is a turning point where ambition meets action and vision transforms into commitment,” stated Secretary-General Pololikashvili.

High-Level Representation and Commitments

The Ministerial welcomed Ministers of Tourism from Azerbaijan, UAE, Brazil, Belarus, Czech Republic, Iran, Montenegro, North Macedonia; Ministers of Environment from Costa Rica and Maldives; and Deputy Ministers from Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan. Other participants included Secretaries of State, national delegates from over 15 countries, regional tourism organizations (Caribbean Tourism Organization, Pacific Tourism Organization), and global tourism bodies (World Travel and Tourism Council, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, International Transport Forum).

A key outcome of the Ministerial was the signing of the COP29 Declaration for Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism, endorsed by 52 governments.

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The Glasgow Declaration Initiative Advances

Tourism Day achievements build on the momentum of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, an initiative of the One Planet network Sustainable Tourism Programme, co-led by UN Tourism and UNEP. The Glasgow Declaration supports tourism’s alignment with the Paris Agreement.

Progress is accelerating, with more than 900 signatories to date and over 370 action plans developed. Key insights from the 2024 Glasgow Declaration Implementation Report, presented at COP29, include:

• 74% of signatories with climate plans are actively measuring emissions
• 92% include decarbonization actions
• 73% address biodiversity protection
• 41% address climate adaptation
• 29% incorporate climate justice
• 82% of plans involve partnerships
• 44% address climate finance (identified as an area needing further progress)

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New Commitments at COP29

At COP29, the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan and Minor International joined the Glasgow Declaration. An additional 58 new signatories were announced, including Destination Canada, the Department for Tourism in Samarkand Region (Uzbekistan), and HOTREC (European Association of Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafés).

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A Visionary Voice: Hector de Castro on Tourism’s Climate Responsibility

Hector de Castro, a global leader in regenerative luxury tourism and Chairman of Regenera Luxury, emphasized the crucial role of tourism in driving climate action at COP29.

“Tourism is at a crossroads: it can either continue to be a significant contributor to climate change or become a powerful catalyst for regeneration and resilience. The commitments made at COP29 show that the sector is ready to embrace responsibility and innovation, ensuring that tourism not only reduces its footprint but actively restores the natural and cultural landscapes it depends on. This is the new era of regenerative tourism — where economic growth, community well-being, and planetary health go hand in hand.”

Mr. De Castro highlights that collaborative initiatives like the Glasgow Declaration create a vital framework for accountability and measurable impact, inspiring the industry to move beyond sustainability toward true regeneration.

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For original article please visit the UN Tourism website: https://www.unwto.org/news/tourism-makes-history-at-cop29-as-50-countries-back-climate-action-declaration-for-sector?utm_source=UNTN&utm_medium=crm