Tourism is booming, but so are its greenhouse gas emissions.

A University of Queensland-led study has found that greenhouse gas emissions from the tourism industry are increasing at a rate more than twice that of the broader global economy. Now representing 9 per cent of the world’s total emissions, the sector’s expanding carbon footprint poses significant challenges for international climate targets.  

The research, conducted in collaboration with Griffith University, the University of Sydney, and Sweden’s Linnaeus University, examined domestic and international travel in 175 countries between 2009 and 2019. 

Tourism emissions rose from 3.7 gigatonnes of CO2-equivalent (Gt CO2-e) in 2009 to 5.2 Gt CO2-e in 2019, an annual growth rate of 3.5 per cent. 

Over the same period, global emissions grew at 1.5 per cent per year.  

Tourism emissions are primarily driven by aviation, utilities, and private vehicle use. 

Air travel alone accounted for 52 per cent of direct emissions from the sector in 2019. Indirect emissions from utilities and petroleum manufacturing also contributed significantly.

The United States, China, and India emerged as the largest contributors to the increase, collectively responsible for 60 per cent of tourism’s emissions growth. 

Australia ranked among the top 20 emitters, a group accounting for three-quarters of the global tourism footprint in 2019.  

The study says slow technological advancements and a surge in travel demand are key factors driving emissions. 

While tourism demand grew at 3.8 per cent annually, technology improvements in efficiency were limited to just 0.3 per cent per year.  

“Without urgent interventions … we anticipate annual increases in emissions of 3 to 4 per cent, meaning they will double every 20 years,” said Associate Professor Ya-Yen Sun from UQ’s Business School. 

“This does not comply with the Paris Agreement which requires the sector to reduce its emissions by more than 10 per cent annually.”  

The study also exposed serious inequities in tourism emissions. 

High-income countries dominate global tourism emissions, while low-income nations - the most vulnerable to the climate impacts of rising emissions - had a minimal contribution.

The study says tourism’s environmental impact can be reduced by reducing the marketing of long-haul travel, introducing carbon dioxide taxes and alternative fuel obligations, and setting national thresholds for tourism growth.  

Dr Sun also urged tourism operators to adopt renewable energy and transition to electric vehicles for transport. 

Tourism was responsible for 8.8 per cent of global anthropogenic warming in 2019. 

At its current growth rate, emissions are set to double every two decades, creating a significant obstacle to global climate targets.  

The International Energy Agency has described progress in decarbonising air travel as "substantially insufficient." 

The increasing emissions are also expected to have a negative effect on the industry itself.

Destinations will increasingly face climate-related challenges, from reduced snow at ski resorts to heightened risks of wildfires.

By addressing the sector’s carbon footprint, stakeholders can help secure a future where tourism actually assists environmental and social resilience.  

The full study is accessible here.

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