Image Source: OECD
Tourism is an important driver of the world’s economy and is a key player in defining new trends of transitioning towards a greener economy. Since tourism is connected to many other sectors such as transportation and agriculture, its shift towards more sustainable measures taken can influence sustainability to grow amongst these other sectors as well.
This means that in order to achieve sustainability, the economy first needs to transition into a greener economy including, for example, the improvement of environmental regulation and the enforcement of these regulations, as well as the employment of new market-based instruments. These instruments include energy taxation, water pricing, and habitat banking to protect biodiversity, for example.
Additional resources can be found in the EU Commission-published Green Paper on Market Based Instruments.
The green Economy doesn’t mean sacrificing; rather, it is based on a qualitative growth in which environmental and climate matters are considered. When working to achieve a green economy we should focus on its goal to achieve “improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities,” as defined by UNEP.
Explore the concept of green economy and get inspired by young professionals’ views.
With tourism’s inherent connection to various other sectors – nationally and internationally – it is an important player in driving the transition towards a greener economy and greater sustainability. For more details you can find and download ’s paper on “Green Innovations in Tourism Services” here.
Get involved in UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative and also be sure to visit the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE)!
