Étiquette : responsible travel

Catégories
Distribution networks Sustainable tourism

Canadian Travel Agents and Carbon Offsets

In 2006, 26,400 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted into the atmosphere, of which tourism contributed 5% (UNWTO, 2008). Of that 5%, air travel was responsible for 40% and land travel for 36%.

The relationship between climate change and tourism is interwoven and interdependent.  Climate change has major implications for the future of tourism because weather conditions factor heavily into the business direction of tourism operators. In Canada, seasonal and outdoor tourism may be adversely impacted by abnormal or unpredictable weather patterns, and costly changes to infrastructure may be required to cope with these changes .

With the growing concern about the effects of climate change and how the tourism industry is vulnerable to these effects, the challenge is to determine the awareness of tourism stakeholders and their level of participation in mitigating such effects.

A 2008 study by L. Kole et al at Ryerson University aimed to determine the level of awareness among Canadian travel agents with regard to climate change, and their willingness to offer carbon offsetting as a mitigation strategy to their clients. The study also aimed to determine whether more information regarding environmental issues and carbon offsetting needs to be provided to travel agents to assist them in channelling this knowledge to consumers.

The study sent an e-survey to 1886 members of the Association of Canadian Travel Agents (ACTA) and 2,500 members of the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (CITC). The study received a 5.9% response rate.

Findings

The study found that while travel agents consider climate change a threat, they were unaware of the tourism industry’s contribution to climate change. Their consumers, travellers, also did not make the connection between climate change and their travel habits. Most travel agents have a ‘basic’ understanding (50%) of climate change and carbon offsetting. More than 50% said their first business priority was ‘making a profit.’ However, 9% of travel agencies said their first priority was ‘spreading knowledge of climate change.’ In addition, although 46% of agents felt it was important to communicate environmental issues related to tourism, they were not encouraged to do so by their agencies.

Some 34% of Canadian travel agents believe their customers would be willing to pay up to $10 as an additional charge for carbon offsets, although they felt that the government should bear the financial costs of carbon offsets. Less than half of these agents ’sometimes’ suggest carbon offsets to their customers while customers ‘rarely’ bring up the option of carbon offsets.

The study concludes that since most travel agents have only a ‘basic’ knowledge and understanding of climate change, they are not sufficiently informed to help transfer knowledge about climate change and carbon offsets to their clients. This is also the main reason that agencies are apprehensive about presenting carbon offsetting as a viable option. Travel agents need to be well-versed in environmental issues and carbon offsetting in order to be ambassadors of environmental change.

Implications

In order to increase awareness, a combined effort needs to be initiated among governments, academic institutions and corporations to educate agents about the effects of climate change on tourism and carbon offsetting. As travel agents are representatives at the frontline of the tourism industry, they wield considerable influence when it comes to travellers’ actions and awareness of environmental issues.

There are a number of approaches for communicating climate change awareness within the tourism industry and for making climate change and carbon offsetting a fundamental part of the industry:

  1. Education Campaign for Agents – climate change and mitigation strategies should be part of travel training institutions’ curriculum.
  2. Increase client awareness through the tourism industry, in order to incorporate this issue into mainstream culture.
  3. Offer clients a flat-rate fee for carbon offsetting.

Travel agents must realize that they can help mitigate the effects of climate change. Agents can inspire action by educating consumers about how their travels contribute to climate change, and by offering them carbon offsetting options to enable them to reduce their carbon emissions.

Sources:

Kole, L., Krestell, S., Parlagreco, L. & Dodds, R. (2008). Climate Change and Carbon Offsetting. Toronto: Ryerson University. 49 pages.

United Nations World Tourism Organization (2008). Climate Change and Tourism:
Responding to Global Challenges. Retrieved from http://www.unwto.org/index.php

Catégories
Sustainable tourism

Younger, Less Affluent Travellers Willing to Pay More for Sustainable Tourism

Although there has been a continuous increase in global tourism despite the economic recession (902 million international travelers in 2008 – a 4% increase over 2007), negative effects are also being identified by businesses and governments alike. One of the ways to counter detrimental effects is for tourists and locals to engage in sustainable tourism practices. The demand for sustainable tourism is difficult to assess, however, as most figures are anecdotal and reflect a willingness to participate rather than pay.

Although multiple studies have been conducted by organizations such as Lonely Planet, National Geographic and others, there is little research data about visitors to Canada, let alone Canada’s biggest city – Toronto. A 2007 study conducted by Arente and Ennamorato on Canadian tourists’ awareness and perceptions of sustainable tourism found that only 12% of Canadians are ‘somewhat’ familiar with the concept of sustainable tourism while 31% had never even heard of it. As for participation in sustainable tourism practices, 49% would choose to participate in activities that have sustainable benefits while travelling and 42% would use travel agencies that follow sustainable tourism guidelines. Over 75% of respondents believe that businesses that market and sell tourism as well as mass media should take on the responsibility of distributing information on sustainable tourism.

To augment this data, a recent study of 400 visitors to Toronto was conducted by Dodds, Antonov, Babkina & Gordon (2008). The purpose of the study was to determine the level of demand for and use of sustainable tourism products (e.g., choosing responsible tour operators, carbon offsetting flights and car rentals, purchasing green products and services such as hotels who showcased environmental policies,  and organic and fair trade food/products).

Findings

The study found that young and not necessarily affluent respondents were willing to pay for sustainable products. Of the respondents, 46% were between the ages of 19- 29 and had a relatively low household income (48% with an income of $24-59,000). Results showed that 11% were willing to pay 11-25% more and 59% of respondents were willing to pay 1-10% more.

Although there is often confusion over the term ‘sustainable tourism’ (45% had never heard of sustainable tourism or were not familiar with it as a form of tourism), 72% of respondents said they were likely to use sustainable tourism products in the future.

The study also found that the more respondents were likely to consider buying sustainable tourism products in the future (77%), the more likely they would pay a premium for them.

In terms of motivation or choice, 44% of respondents said they participated in sustainable tourism practices because they did not want to harm the environment. Although this number is not the majority, many people were also concerned that it corresponded with their moral values (38%) and understood the importance of doing so (39%).

Conclusions

Many sceptics maintain that there is not outstanding participation in or widespread demand for more responsible tourism products. This, however, may be due to limited awareness (33% of the travellers who had never purchased sustainable tourism products said that this was because they were not aware of them).

Canadian travellers are also comparable to international travellers. In a 2007 TripAdvisor ecotourism survey of 1,000 travelers worldwide, 38% responded that environmentally-friendly tourism is a consideration when travelling. This finding is similar to the Toronto study. Only 4% of respondents were ‘not at all’ likely to participate in sustainable tourism practices while travelling in the future, while 44% were ‘somewhat’ likely to consider purchasing sustainable tourism products.

References :

Arente, H. & Ennamorato, M. (2007). Sustainable Tourism: Travel Like You Mean It!  Toronto: TNS Canadian Facts. Retrieved Dec 16, 2008, from http://www.tns-cf.com/conferences/ttra/ttra-2007.pdf

Dodds, R., Antonov, Y., Babkina, I., & Gordon, S. (2008). Travellers’ Demand For and Participation in Sustainable Tourism Practices in Canada. Toronto: Ryerson University.

TripAdvisor. (2007). TripAdvisor Travelers Keen on Going Green. Press release. Retrieved Dec 16, 2008, from http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/PressCenter-i120-c1-Press_Releases.html

Catégories
Ailleurs dans le monde @en Products and activities Trends

International cruises: Outlook for 2010 and overview of major trends

Hit hard by the economic crisis, the year 2009 was, for many sectors of the tourism industry, a catastrophic year. For the cruise industry, however, it was a year in which the number of passengers actually grew, fuelled by major cuts to cruise fares. As for 2010, the outlook is very positive: new ships, new clienteles, an increase in reservations and higher product prices. Major trends are coming to the industry: Web 2.0, sustainable development and a more international clientele. Here is a brief overview of the industry and its short-term prospects.

Outlook for 2010

At a presentation given January 20, 2010, by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Terry L. Dale and Richard E. Sasso, CLIA’s President & CEO, and Chairman, Marketing Committee, respectively, shared some forecasts for the year 2010. The number of passengers should reach 14.3 million, while there were 13.4 million in 2009. Fares will rise, but will remain lower than they were in 2008. The major deals offered during the winter of 2009 will not be repeated this year, but consumers will still be able to benefit from special promotions like shipboard credits, free plane ticket, 2 for 1 cruises, etc.

Cruise companies will launch 12 new ships in 2010, including the much anticipated Epic, Allure of the Seas and Disney Dream. A survey of CLIA member travel agents showed that they are extremely optimistic and expect to see the number of reservations rise in the next three years. In addition, according to another CLIA survey, 34 million Americans are planning to take a cruise some time between 2008 and 2011.

In other news, Alaska is experiencing tremendous difficulty because a majority of cruise lines have announced they will redeploy ships from Alaska to other locations in the next two years. If this trend continues, the Alaska Travel Industry Association expects the number of passengers to fall by 140,000 in 2010, dropping to a total of 860,000 travellers.

Web 2.0 influence growing

Most cruise lines now use social media on a daily basis in their marketing campaigns. One such example is Royal Caribbean’s launch of Oasis of the Seas in the fall of 2009.  The company started by setting up an entire Website devoted to the new ship where visitors could follow the progress of the construction in real time. Numerous videos were posted to the site, showing everything from the ship’s maiden voyage to a presentation of onboard activities. Furthermore, its risky passage underneath the Storebaelt Bridge in Denmark engendered enormous interest on the Web. The “Reporter at Sea” online contest was also organized to find citizen journalists to cover the launch. In total, the site received some 4.8 million unique visitors.

 

International_cruises

Source: http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/

Another extremely popular site is the blog written by John Heald, Senior Cruise Director, Carnival Cruise Lines. It is so successful that he was able to organize two thematic cruises in 2009, solely for his readers. Most cruise lines, as well as many ports of call, now maintain Twitter and Facebook profiles.

The trend towards sustainable cruising

Sustainable development is also becoming a major concern of consumers as well as cruise lines and destinations. Eco-cruising is increasingly popular and can significantly improve a destination’s market position. The Ecoventura, for example, is a ship that uses solar panels and wind turbines on its cruises in the Galapagos, and the ports of Los Angeles, Seattle and Vancouver now offer dockside power.

The phenomenon has also influenced the shore excursions developed. Costa Cruises created 240 eco-excursions to reduce its environmental impact. Furthermore, the Baltic Sea region has implemented a major environmental program. Among other things, it plans to equip all ports with an onshore power supply (OPS).

Finally, a major legislative change will force cruise lines to use low-sulphur diesel fuels when travelling within 200 nautical miles of the coasts of Canada and the United States (see Nouvelle réglementation sur la pollution de l’air par les compagnies de croisières: un désastre financier?). The industry is obviously concerned about the passage of this legislation, primarily for economic reasons such as the profitability of routes through the protected area, but also because of the limited availability of such fuels.

Changing products

Several indicators have changed somewhat in the last few years, due to the economic crisis. For example, consumers are now more price-sensitive when shopping for cruise packages so cruise lines are trying to outdo each other to create the most interesting packages. The phenomenon has also led destinations to offer economic incentives. Ukrainian ports are offering a 50% discount on port fees for every stopover during the winter of 2010. Price sensitivity is also the reason that there are now more ports of embarkation, since travellers increasingly want to be within driving distance of their departure location. In addition, the cruise booking window between the date of purchase and the date of departure has shortened, dropping from 5.6 months in 2008 to 4.6 in 2009.

Cruise passengers are increasingly experienced. They have sailed the Caribbean, visited Alaska and travelled along the West Coast of the United States. They are seeking new destinations, which is why the industry is currently witnessing the emergence of destinations in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia. The increased popularity of European cruises is also an offshoot of this situation, with river cruising a booming market. Member agents of the CLIA report that 34% of clients are very interested in river cruising. In 2008, the number of beds available in Europe was 71,300, an increase of 15% compared to 2007 and 62% more compared to 2005.

Other trends observed are the popularity of theme cruises, primarily those focussed on food and wine, as well as the success of private and cultural shore excursions. A new type of excursion that is becoming popular is the extended “mid-cruise” excursion, which enables visitors to spend several days in a single location. Silversea Cruises has announced they will offer 40 such excursions in 2010.

An increasingly international clientele

The clientele for cruises is gradually becoming more diverse. Although the vast majority of cruise passengers are American, the proportion of those from other countries is rapidly rising. In fact, out of 13.4 million cruise passengers in 2009, 23.5% came from outside North America, compared to only 10% in 2000. Furthermore, more Canadians are going to sea; some 775,000 took a cruise in 2009, a 9% increase over 2008. Canadians now account for one-quarter of non-American cruise passengers.

Now that the worst of the economic crisis is over, forecasts for the coming years are very optimistic. The trends affecting the cruise industry are much the same as those affecting other tourism sectors: sustainable development, social media, increasingly informed and experienced consumers, etc. The industry has already proved it is resilient and can quickly adapt to change. Will the rest of us be able to go with the flow?

 

Article written for the Ministère du Tourisme intelligence gathering project.

Sources:

CLIA, Media Cruise Update, January 20, 2010, presentation.
CLIA, As a source of passengers and appealing cruise itineraries, Canada’s importance to cruise industry continues to grow.
CLIA, 2008 Cruise Market Profile Study.
European politics, Baltic Region: OPS for Sustainable Port Development, October 12, 2009.
http://www.travelweekly.com/article3_ektid206492.aspx
http://www.ecoventura.com/aboutus/ourgalapagoscommitment.aspx
http://www.expertcruiser.com/blog/mr-popular-carnival-announces-additional-bloggers-cruises-with-john-heald/
http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/3530-1410-odessa-reducing-port-dues-in-2010.html

Catégories
Sustainable tourism

Assessing the Demand for Sustainable Tourism

Rachel Dodds, Director, Sustaining Tourism, & Assistant Professor, Ryerson University and Marion Joppe, President, Tourism Environment, & University Research Chair in Tourism, University of Guelph are assessing the demand for sustainable tourism in this article.

Although there is no question that tourism needs to be sustainable, the actual demand for sustainable tourism is difficult to assess as most figures reflect anecdotal evidence of market share. In recent years, a number of surveys have assessed the demand for more sustainable forms of travel and, in some instances, a willingness to pay and/or financially offset the impact of respondents’ travel.

A number of studies have shown that consumers are becoming more interested in sustainable forms of tourism. In Europe, 95% of Swiss tourists consider respect for local culture to be highly important when choosing a holiday(1) and approximately 87% of respondents in a 2004 responsibletravel.com survey indicated they were also interested in locally produced food, local culture and using local guides when on holiday. A 2002 survey commissioned by the Association of British Travel Agents(2) found that, for 87% of respondents, it was very important that their holiday not damage the environment and, for 76%, that it benefit the people of the destination they were travelling to (for example, through jobs and business opportunities). According to National Geographic Traveller(3), there are 55 million Geotourists in the United States who are environmentally and socially responsible. Geotourists are defined as having “ceaseless expectations for unique and culturally authentic travel experiences that protect and preserve the ecological and cultural environment.” Of these travellers, 38% would be willing to pay a premium to patronize travel companies that use sustainable environmental practices (although it should be noted that only 6% of US travellers take holidays overseas).

It would seem that 2007 was the year when everyone jumped on the “environment bandwagon,” with contradictory results. Most optimistic, a Lonely Planet poll of 24,500 consumers from 144 countries stated that 93% of people said they would or might purposefully partake in environmentally-friendly travel in the future(4). Travellers who consult Lonely Planet are already likely to be much more sensitive to sustainability issues, which accounts for this high percentage that is not supported by other research. For instance, in April 2007, the online travel community, TripAdvisor(5), surveyed 1000 travellers worldwide. Of these, 38% said that environmentally-friendly tourism is a consideration when travelling, 38% had stayed at an environmentally-friendly hotel, 9% specifically seek out such hotels, 34% are willing to pay more to stay in environmentally-friendly hotels and 37% are willing to pay a premium of at least 5-10%. Perhaps of greater long-term concern to the travel industry was the finding that 24% believe air travel should be avoided.

An October 2007 study by TNS Travel & Tourism of over 6,000 people in Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and North America(6) concluded that the willingness to pay to offset the environmental costs of their holiday ranged from a low of 2% for Germans, to a high of 12% for Spaniards. With regard to taking steps to reduce their environmental impact, the Italians lead all countries with 32% willing to switch to greener plans, while the United States lag well behind other countries with only 16% expressing such a willingness.

In an American STI survey(7), 75.4% of respondents who are self-declared environmentally-oriented consumers indicated that they were willing to pay $1-20 extra per ticket to mitigate the greenhouse gas effects of their travel and 76.7% said they would switch online travel sites to one that made contributions on their behalf to offset the portion of their emissions. The TNS Travel and Tourism survey was thus less optimistic about the attitude of Americans than the earlier STI study and the survey undertaken by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) in 2003(8). The TIA study suggested that more than half of all US adults would be more likely to select an airline, rental car or hotel that uses more environmentally-friendly products and processes. Yet only 14% said their actual selection of a supplier would be influenced by the supplier’s efforts to preserve the environment. In terms of products, 13% would be willing to pay more to use green products – although fully 56% said they might. The amount or rate of the fare premium seems to be the source of their hesitation: 76% would pay less than 10% more per usage, with the majority indicating they would pay less than 5% more.

Compared to their American neighbours, Canadian “travellers express a willingness to take personal action. One-third say that they would switch from a preferred holiday destination to another that supported sustainable tourism, while four in 10 would try to find and use a travel agency that adheres to environmentally sensitive guidelines. And over one-quarter (28%) say they would pay a premium for an ethical and sustainable holiday.”(9) Research conducted by Dodds & Leung(10) suggests that 25% expect travel agents to provide information on climate change and carbon-offsetting options.

While it has been suggested that 44% of British travellers would likely choose an airline with a reputation for fuel-efficient planes(11), Tiscali(12) found that 67% would not even be thinking about the impact their summer holidays could have on the environment. Although consumers may indicate that they expect environmental and social issues to be taken into consideration on their holidays, they do not take it upon themselves to ensure these criteria are being met. Responsibility for ensuring that tourism is more sustainable falls into the hands of the operator. In the UK, over 80% say tour operators should be responsible for preserving the local environment and culture and ensuring that local people benefit from tourism, and the same percentage is more likely to book a holiday with a company with a ‘responsible’ travel policy – a 28% increase since 2001(13). A report by Tearfund(14) declared that 55% of consumers believe that travel agents have a responsibility to provide the information, while 48% think tour operators should provide it.

So what now? Are industry and government moving in this direction?

Although consumers may expect to see social or environmental considerations addressed in the brochures and Websites of operators and travel providers, they do not currently demand these when booking travel packages because many operators simply do not offer responsible/sustainable travel options.

To further the sustainability agenda within the tourism industry, there are a number of recommendations. First, governments should focus their capacity-building efforts on suppliers, using methods like legislated compliance (e.g., environmental, reputation and business probity) and ensuring that resources are available for supplier training and learning and, where needed, filling resource gaps. Second, there is a need to increase public-private partnerships to train the tourism sector in environmental and social awareness and mitigation strategies and industry associations should offer incentives and reporting guidelines. Governments and industry alike need to support training and the sharing of best practices while encouraging industry associations to make adherence to sustainable or responsible tourism policies a condition of membership and to report on progress.

Third, with greater consumer awareness of issues such as climate change, the demand for more information is growing. Demand for sustainable tourism products and services may also grow, if the industry starts to offer more sustainable choices to clients. Businesses can diversify and gain a competitive advantage.

Finally, there is a need to encourage corporate social responsibility reporting from tour operators, airlines, cruise lines, hotels and destinations so that they can understand the impact they themselves are having. Reporting will also provide measurable criteria to allow for comparison of companies and destinations.

Sources:

1. Switzerland Travel Writers and Journalism Club, cited on the Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa Website. Retrieved July 5, 2005, from http://www.fairtourismsa.org.za/fairtrade/index.html
2. MORI (2002). “Package Holidays 2002.” London: Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).
3. Travel Industry Association of America (2003). “Geotourism: New Trend in Travel Study.” Prepared for National Geographic Traveller, October 2003.
4. Travelmole (2007). “Travellers Back Radical Moves to Protect Environment.” Retrieved August 8, 2007, from http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1121133.php.
5. TripAdvisor (2007). “TripAdvisor Travelers Keen on Going Green.” Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/PressCenter-i120-c1-Press_Releases.html.
6. TNS Travel and Tourism (2007). “Quarter of holidaymakers say they’ll switch to greener plans.” Press release. Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.tnsglobal.com/news/news-4078B2FF93A14AD084EE03C776EE6009.aspx
7. Anavo & STI (2004). Retrieved July 5, 2005, from http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/enewsletters/february05travelreport.html
8. TIA (2003).
9. TNS Canadian Facts (2007, December 4). “Canadian travellers express willingness to change their travel behaviours owing to environmental concerns: survey”. Press release. Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.tnsglobal.com/news/news-4CEBC86E3705458FBD60A0D5D960E94A.aspx
10. Dodds, R., & Leung, M. (2007). “Climate change awareness in the tourism industry.” Conference Proceedings TTRA Canada, October 18-20, 2007.
11. TNS Travel and Tourism (2007).
12. Tiscali (2007). “Summer Lifestyle Report 2007.” Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.tiscali.co.uk/presscentre/press_release/2007/july/071807summerlifestyle.html
13. Taylor Nelson Sofres (2004). Responsible Travel ‘Had Enough’ Survey. Retrieved July 5, 2005 from http://www.responsibletravel.com/Copy/Copy101763.htm.
14. Tearfund (2001). “Worlds Apart – A call to responsible global tourism.” Middlesex, UK

Catégories
Issues Sustainable tourism

Sustainable purchasing policies: Does your business have one?

Green purchasing or sustainable procurement is a tool to mitigate the environmental impacts of consumption. It simply means looking at what products are made of, where they come from, how they are made and how they will be disposed of at the end of their life cycle. Green purchasing is also an initiative to consume responsibly and move towards a more sustainable society.

Most governments, large companies and, increasingly, small and medium enterprises in tourism have some sort of purchase or procurement policy that incorporates environmental and socially responsible objectives. The number of tourism businesses that operate with a green purchase policy has not yet been quantified. The public sector spends 45-65% of its budget on procurement, which amounts to 13-17% of the GDP of OECD nations. Overall, tourism has the potential to significantly improve its sustainability performance by implementing green purchase policies because it is an industry that consumes products and services from almost every economic sector. For example, some hotel chains like Scandic as well as the Resort Municipality of Whistler have integrated sustainable purchasing goals into their procurement policies and developed a number of resource tools to encourage better purchasing choices.

What is a sustainable green product?

In simple terms, sustainable products must meet one the following criteria: they must be made from abundant and/or renewable sources, recyclable, organic, made or grown locally, powered efficiently, durable (i.e., have a long life cycle) and/or be reusable. In effect, a sustainable product best meets the aims of environmentally responsible management at all stages of the product’s life cycle. Life cycle analysis is a very important part of responsible consumption. It refers to the analysis of all the stages involved in the production and consumption of something:

  • materials initially used to produce it
  • amount of energy used to extract materials
  • waste outputs involved in acquiring the raw materials
  • manufacturing processes
  • consumer use
  • maintenance
  • final disposal

Traditional products do not reflect the full cost of their social and environmental impact. For example, the price of polluting products such as chemicals and non-biodegradable products does not include the cost of cleaning up the pollution they cause. Instead, this cost is the responsibility of the communities affected and is usually paid by public funds. It is almost impossible for a tourism business or consumer to analyze the life cycle of every product. To make it easier to identify more socially responsible products, a variety of organizations are developing standards, labels and certification programs (see figure with logos). In Canada, Environment Canada’s Environmental Choice Program provides a list of products that have been tested and certified environmentally responsible throughout their life cycle. Such products are the least damaging compared to alternatives on the market and they are permitted to display the EcoLogo. Various other organizations across North America and elsewhere offer certification for a diverse range of products.

It is difficult to assess products that are not labelled. It is also necessary to pay close attention to labels and marketing tactics as the market is currently being saturated with “environmentally friendly” products that do not truly live up to their claims. A product can be assessed by checking product Websites and obtaining information directly from suppliers. If a company does not have a clear description of their sustainability policy, it is also advisable to check its accreditation for general compliance with standards as well as whether it belongs to Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR).

Why sustainable purchasing should be the norm

Green purchasing influences the market by encouraging businesses to offer more innovative and sustainable options. Besides being generally more responsible, businesses enjoy numerous other advantages by adopting a sustainable purchasing policy. This includes many savings, especially over the long term, as well as an enhanced brand image. As consumers are becoming increasingly green-oriented, companies who have already embraced more responsible practices are realizing opportunities to differentiate themselves from competitors. Other specific benefits can include:

  • savings due to lower operating costs because energy, water and other resources are used more efficiently
  • savings from lower waste management fees
  • easier compliance with environmental regulations
  • avoidance of unnecessary health and safety risks associated with toxic product use

It must be noted that several of these benefits may only be realized over the medium or long term. When companies who have adopted sustainable purchasing policies educate the public and build awareness of their economic and environmental benefits, employees develop a sense of pride across the organization.

Practical steps for implementing a sustainable purchasing policy

1. Reconsider each purchase

A lot of businesses consume products that are not necessary. To determine whether a specific product needs to be purchased, the following questions must be asked:

  • How does this product contribute to the company’s service?
  • Can the company deliver its service without this product?
  • (if relevant) Has the product been used to the end of its life cycle?

In the case of consumable items, it is worthwhile to assess the possibility of reducing the rate of consumption. Reducing the purchase of unnecessary items will create savings for purchasing or encouraging more sustainable products.

2. Rent, lease or buy it second-hand

Infrequently used products like office furniture, tools, machines and computers, for example, can be also rented, leased or even shared with other businesses. Renting means that the initial purchase price is reduced, so it saves money and avoids the risks and costs associated with disposing of these products. Some companies that purchase durable goods are legally responsible for the waste and recycling of their products. In the case of renovations and building, construction materials can increasingly be purchased recycled or second-hand.3. Choose a durable or longer life productIt is better to choose products that are longer lasting and, preferably, multifunctional to reduce one’s overall rate of consumption. This requires comparing the cost of a non-disposable version with a less durable or disposable product to determine the cost per use and estimate whether money can be saved. For example, throwaway items such as foam cups can be replaced with recyclable equivalents, including glass. Most products on the market, like light bulbs and batteries, have “longer life” versions. Products such as electronics and machinery have a long service life and can often be repaired.

4. Choose products or services designed to address specific environmental or social concernsIf possible, it is preferable to choose labelled products that have been tested by reliable organizations. If a labelled product is not available, consider the following:

  • For all chemical-based products, check the product’s content. Cleaning products, fertilizers, lighting, paints, piping and wood products all have specific assessments to show how toxic they are and these are often available on government department web pages or other publicly accessible sites. Certain computer hardware components and cleaning products contain toxic ingredients such as formaldehyde, mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium, phosphate and volatile organic compounds. These products need to be replaced with low polluting, less toxic alternatives. For example, oil-based paints have water-based equivalents and so on. Some plastics and furniture can emit gas, which is not only harmful to the environment in general but also dangerous to human health.
  • For all non-perishable products, check whether the product can be recycled and reused. These include products such as toner cartridges, oils, glass, plastics, paper, pens, beverage containers, batteries, and so on.
  • For products that use water and/or energy, check the availability of more efficient alternatives that use less of these resources. This applies to anything from plumbing fixtures, to kitchenware and light bulbs.
  • Check whether the product is recyclable, or contains recycled materials or reusable parts. Sometimes new products are available from recycled materials and the purchase of these items promotes recycling instead of using virgin materials. These products are labelled to show the percentage of content that was produced from recycled sources. Some products are made from materials that are less and less abundant and nearly exhausted, including furniture.
  • For products that use non-renewable energy such as petrol-based fuels, check whether alternatives exist that use a cleaner source of energy or renewable energy. This applies particularly to cars. The variety of fuel-efficient equivalents is growing rapidly in all vehicle categories and in Quebec the government provides a tax rebate for buyers of some hybrid vehicles.
  • For perishable food items, check whether they have been organically and/or locally grown. If you run a dining establishment, you must pay particular attention to foods like fish to avoid serving species whose stocks are overharvested. Sustainable Seafood Canada is a coalition of conservation organizations that has developed a guide to encourage sustainable consumption patterns.
  • For imported products from less developed nations, check whether they have been produced in accordance with fair trade principles.

5. Source products locally as possible

In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is really important to source as much as possible from local sources.

How to get started?

Implementing a sustainable purchasing policy will take time because purchasing staff need to consider trade-offs. This includes environmental objectives versus operational requirements, price competitiveness and product quality and availability. For most tourism businesses, implementing a sustainable purchasing policy will not be easy because of the need to strike a balance between these aspects. However, it is better to start with a simple plan that can be improved continually. Organizations that have implemented such sustainability actions have the following advice:

  1. develop a clear policy statement about the organization’s vision and objectives regarding sustainability, including a new purchasing plan with clear priorities
  2. involve everyone in the organization in the process
  3. set clear, measurable targets for implementation
  4. regularly monitor the organization’s progress towards achieving the objectives

Sustainable purchasing is an effective tool that helps businesses prevent pollution at the source. It is also an effective way to educate everyone to be responsible. As purchasing affects every phase of the production process, from the extraction of raw materials to waste management, via responsible consumption, an organization’s financial and environmental performance can improve because every buying decision has an impact on the economy, the environment and society. Buying “green” products helps suppliers that produce responsible products to realize economies of scale. This reduces their costs and encourages a wider distribution of their product, probably at lower prices. Today’s responsible products are produced at low volumes and cost more partly because the market is still small. This should change as demand increases.

Every person and every business needs to be more responsible and change today. Consumers cannot shop the planet out of its problems, but responsible patterns of consumption will help mitigate some issues.

Sources:

Catégories
Sustainable tourism Transportation

Understanding the dynamics of carbon credit purchasing from offsets when traveling carbon neutral

Voluntary carbon compensation, or carbon offsetting is applicable to anything that contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions1. It means paying an extra for buying carbon credits in offset projects, so that the emissions caused are balanced out. To be carbon neutral, the quantity of carbon credit purchased need to equal the quantity of emissions caused.

Being carbon neutral in tourism is mostly associated with the transport sector, but increasingly, hotels, events, and even car rental companies offer the possibility to neutralize their carbon footprint. Carbon neutrality is not yet mainstream, however, it is heading in that direction. For example, in 2005 0,5 % of British Airways passengers traveled carbon neutral and the figure is estimated to be 1 % presently. Some reports suggest the voluntary carbon market grew up to 1000 % between 2002 and 2005. However, as it is not regulated, a number of issues have emerged that require awareness.

Carbon compensation in context

The voluntary purchase of carbon credits is outside the Kyoto mechanism, and it represents an important part of climate change mitigation for individuals, as well as businesses. It is also an example of a voluntary application of the
polluter-payer principle. The Kyoto Protocol is a mandatory framework to signatory countriesand includes three principal mechanisms:

  1. Emission trading in pollution quotas
  2. Clean Development Mechanism projects (CDM)
  3. Joint implementation projects (JI)

Emission trading is an allowance-based measure that sets a limit on the amount of pollution permitted by Kyoto countries. Those emitting more than permitted must buy credits from those that pollute below limits on the carbon market, for example via the European Union Emission Trading Scheme. At present this affects mainly power companies and the manufacturing sector, and excludes tourism and the airline industry, although the latter is under significant pressure for inclusion.

Project-based measures include specific projects that will result in GHG reduction. Offset projects create new carbon credits and include renewable energy production, energy efficiency technology development and carbon sequestration. Kyoto-based projects are administered by signatory national governments and two types exist. « Clean Development Mechanism » (CDM) projects permit industrialized nations to invest in projects located in developing countries, to contribute to their sustainable development, while « Joint Implementation » (JI) includes projects between industrialized countries. When travelers purchase carbon credits to compensate or neutralize their activities, in general, they are not contributing to such projects. Exceptions include organizations such as « Atmosfair ».

Voluntary carbon credit purchasing does not equate to emission reduction in absolute terms, because the pollution still occurs. Thus, an effort is still required by everyone to reduce emission contributions. Researchers suggests that to achieve a 10 % reduction of GHG emissions from aviation, the purchase of voluntary carbon credits would need to increase by a factor of 400.

10 things to be aware of before choosing to be carbon neutral

1. Type of organizations selling carbon credits
Estimates indicate that more than 40 organizations sell carbon offsets and their growth and expansion has lead to certain transparency issues. Some are profit and others are non-profit organizations and they are all located in industrialized countries. They all verse a % of the money to offset projects that can be anything between 25 % and 90 %. Hence, some keep significant proportions for operating costs.

2. Variations in emission calculations
Recent research suggests significant differences (as much as a factor of 3) exist between the carbon calculators of individual offset organizations, thus, there is a need for standardization to improve credibility. Calculators need to be informative and accurate. The more parameters used, generally the more accurate the carbon calculation should be. In the case of emissions from flying, a good calculator will include the exact distance flown based on actual routes, take account of radiative forcing at different altitudes depending on the length of flight, occupancy rate, and the type of plane.

3. Cost of carbon credits
The price per ton of carbon offset is variable between organizations because the voluntary carbon market is outside the Kyoto mechanism and hence, it is not regulated, nor standardized. Buying carbon credits currently varies from $ CAD 3 to $ 43 per ton.

4. Type and quality of projects supported
Of the three main types of offset projects the most favorable include emission-free energy generation (wind, biomass, solar, geothermal) and new technology developments (any new products that use less energy such as hybrid vehicles).

When buying into these projects, the main issue relates to additionality; a debated concept in carbon accounting. What is important to know before purchasing carbon credits is whether the projects supported will genuinely result in GHG emission reductions. The question to ask is, if I did not finance this project, would it have occurred? If yes, then it is not a real reduction project, because its financing was not from carbon credit purchasing.

5. Beware of tree plantations
Intending carbon neutral travelers need to be well-informed about carbon credits that finance tree plantations. Evidence suggests problems and controversies surround such projects, and consequently some organizations do not even offer any carbon credits in them. The singular action of tree planting will not solve climate change problems for many reasons, notably because it does not lead to a reduction of fossil fuel reliance (Refer to next edition of the Globe-Veilleur on this subject).

6. Buying high-quality carbon credits
Voluntary offset companies can either operate in or outside (mostly) of the Kyoto framework. The advantage of buying credits from organizations associated with Kyoto, is that emission reductions are verified under a regulatory framework administered by national governments.

7. Project standard credit labels
Presently there are no standards to judge the performance of voluntary offset projects, although several are currently being developed. The Gold Standard Foundation offers a quality label to both Kyoto-based and to several voluntary based projects. Thus, it is currently the most reliable label. Such projects are rigorous, and tested for environmental quality by registered third parties. Gold standard projects exclusively focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

8. Buying future carbon credits: forward purchasing
Travelers also need to be aware that some organizations sell carbon credits in either already existing projects or in future projects. The purchase of future credits creates some risk, because the proposed project may not be realized and or under-perform. However, investing in projects upfront is important in generating funds to start new offset projects.

9. Location of offset projects
Some of the offset projects are located in developing countries and some have created a variety of environmental and social problems, such as people getting displaced from their land and losing access to resources on which their livelihood depends. Thus, it is important to check that the projects are verified and meet standards, so they deliver long-term benefits to the areas where they are developed.

10. Most credible offset organization?
Two recent studies evaluated offset organizations and the most recommended include « Atmosfair », « Climate friendly », « Myclimate » and « NativeEnergy ».

What next?

The above issues need to be addressed to ensure that additional expenditures by travelers and the tourism industry towards negating fossil fuel use are created with the desirable outcome for which they are intended.

Climate change is a global problem that needs global solutions. Thus, if the tourism industry is to keep its confidence in carbon compensation schemes, it needs a standardized method for carbon calculating and the projects it invests in need to be certified and accredited by a relevant global organization.

In the meantime, it is important to reduce GHG emissions and move away from the use of fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. If going carbon neutral, we need to ensure that carbon credits are purchased in quality projects, preferably clean energy and energy efficiency.

1: Carbon refers to carbon dioxide as a gas. Carbon offset projects sometimes involve compensating for other greenhouse gases. The Kyoto Protocol recognizes six gases as contributors to global warming, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydro fluorocarbons, per fluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.

Sources:
– Anonymous. The Economist (2007) Carbon offsets: ripping off would-be greens? The Economist, 382(8520) p.61.
– Anonymous. The New Internationalist (2006) Special report on carbon related issues. The New Internationalist. July. Issue no.391.
– Atmosfair website. Last visited 4 July, 2007.
– Climate Friendly website. Last visited 4 July, 2007.
– Heughebaert, A. (2006) Étude comparative des programmes de compensation volontaire des emissions de C02 par les passagers d’avions. Institut de Gestion de l’environnement et de l’aménagement du territoire. Université Libre de Bruxelles. 98 pp.
– International Civil Aviation Organization 2007. Presentations and statements from the ICAO Colloquium on Aviation Emissions with Exhibition, held in Montreal Canada 14 – 16 May 2007.
– Gold Standard Foundation website. Last visited June 11, 2007
– Gössling, S., Broderick, J., Upham, P., Ceron, J., Dubois, G., Peeters, P. and Strasdas, W. (2007) Voluntary Carbon Offsetting Schemes for Aviation: Efficiency, Credibility and Sustainable Tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 15(3) p.223-248.
– Kollmuss, A. and Bowell, B. (2007) Voluntary Offsets for Air-Travel Carbon Emissions. Evaluations and Recommendations of Voluntary Offset Companies. Tufts Climate Initiative. 53 pp.
-Luzadder, K. (2007) Agent Issues: Carbon-offset programs: a reality check. www.travelweekly.com. June 14, 2007. 5 pp.
– Myclimate website. Last visited 4 July, 2007
– NativeEnergy website. Last visited 4 July, 2007
-Tufts Climate Initiative (2006) A Consumer Handout. Flying Green. How to protect the Climate and Travel Responsibility. Tufts Climate Initiative. 5 pp.
– United Nations Framework on Climate Change website. Last visited 28 June 2007.

Catégories
Issues Sustainable tourism

Is flying really that sinful?

The tourism industry already has a plethora of environmental issues to address, but more than ever, flying is considered as the biggest sin. Travelers are increasingly preoccupied with the environmental and social ethics of their consumption patterns and some reports claim that more people choose not to travel, in an attempt to curb their contribution to anthropogenic climate change. For example, a recent bulletin of the Canadian Tourism Commission reported that 29 % of UK travelers confirm having already cut back on air travel because of environmental concerns. Thus, the travel and tourism sector need to demonstrate it is taking its share of responsibility towards sustainable development. If not, more consumers may continue to choose to avoid travel, which will adversely impact on the entire tourism sector.

Atmospheric pollution from aircrafts contributes 2 % to 3 % to global greenhouse gas emissions annually, which is less than other sectors, such as road transport, forestry, or agriculture. According to current scenarios of civil aviation carbon dioxide emissions, in 2050 they will increase by factors of 3.3 to 5. Thus, if aviation emissions continue to grow while other sectors reduce their emissions, the relative importance of tourism’s contributions to greenhouse gas emissions will grow. Consequently, tourism involving flying will become a more significant contributor to environmental problems.

The problem

At least the airline industry is addressing the problem and it was the first sector to commission a special report to determine its baseline performance from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 1999. A recent International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)1 conference, and first ever on aviation emissions, outlined the nature and magnitude of the current problem. Discussions also extended to mitigation measures, where the tourism sector has an important role to play. However, the near absence of tourism industry representatives at the conference is a clear sign that many opportunities remain for a cooperative approach to finding solutions to current problems.

Scientists today confirm that new aircrafts are more efficient than the average car on the road. Engine fuel consumption and aircraft fuel burn per seat improved 70% since the 1960s. Nonetheless, planes use non-renewable natural resources, and between 1990 and 2004, fuel consumption by the aviation sector increased by 2 to 3% per year. Despite alternative fuel technology developments, kerosene remains the primary fuel for planes in the short to medium term. Alternate fuel developments continue to deliver major advances, however fuel source and production raises other environmental issues. In addition, unlike conventional fuels, alternative fuels such as biofuels are currently not regulated nor standardized.

Aircraft emissions are complex and many scientific uncertainties remain. There is pollution from fossil fuel combustion on the ground and in the air at high altitudes. Besides the well-known carbon dioxide emissions, planes also emit water vapors, nitrous oxides, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfur gases, soot aerosols and metal particles. At high altitudes these gases behave differently and emissions also change the radiation balance of the troposphere. Planes also contribute to condensation trails that cause cirrus cloud formation, which is unique to aviation in the climate change debate.

Today the aviation sector’s target for 2020 is to reduce fuel burn and carbon dioxide emissions by 50%. It is currently estimated that technological improvements alone can bring more than 1% improvements per year. In order to achieve further engine innovations from technology development means environmental trade-off between low gas and noise emissions (especially nitrous oxides) and these also impact on operational costs. Thus powerful research and development advances are needed, coupled with appropriate programs and strong collaboration effort by stakeholders, such as airlines, airports, traffic managers, regulators and governments.

The ICAO conference also included discussions about local air quality and emission standards for aviation. Although standards exist for several gases2, presently there are none for particulate matter and carbon dioxide. The setting of standards is a very complex procedure. Current research is investigating how to enable appropriate monitoring and standard setting of aviation emissions.

At airports aircraft are responsible for about 50 % of the emissions produced on average. Other emissions result from ground transportation and use of support equipment. Airport efficiency is highly variable at different destinations, thus many opportunities exist to improve operations. For example, the time taken to taxi in and out, take-off climb and subsequent descent and landing procedures contributes very differently to emissions. For example, on average (all flights globally) it is estimated that 6.5 kg of carbon is emitted per passenger during take off and landing, compared to 0.02 kg per passenger at cruising level. There appears significant emission and fuel burn savings by optimally assign aircraft amongst available altitudes. Calculations also suggest that current traffic flow is inefficient and rerouting may improve emission performance as well prevent conflicts (with other planes, weather and on ground). Even a 2 km reduction in average distance flown by planes could lead to over 200 million km of travel per year, resulting in over 2 million tones of carbon dioxide savings.

Major issues remain

Although mitigation measures via technology and traffic management promise continued improvement in the future, market-based solutions are also part of the solution. However, questions still remain as to who is really accountable for aircraft emissions? Is it fuel suppliers, aircraft operators, airport and navigation service providers, or the manufacturers? Or is the end user, i.e. travelers? Or – the tourism industry responsible for destination marketing?

Current market-based solutions to greenhouse gas emissions include taxes, carbon trading and voluntary reduction mechanisms, such as carbon compensation schemes. Environmental taxes are already part of tourism at several destinations in various forms and they are not generally popular with everyone. Since the early 1990s several European airports notably in Switzerland, France, Sweden, UK, Germany have implemented local air quality charges to respond to local air pollution problems.

Aviation fuel is currently exempt from taxes. Some transport research3 suggests that the potential impact of a carbon tax on international tourism would be small. Even if a very high global tax of $ 1000 per tone of carbon emitted were applied in the year 2010, it would not change travel behavior and only reduce carbon dioxide emissions from aviation by 0.8 %. Under such a scenario, tourist destinations on short haul flights may see a decline in international tourist numbers. Island destinations would be losers in general. Eastern and Central Europe and countries such as China and India would gain, while Western Europe, the Americas and Africa would lose. Modeling also suggests that a carbon tax on aviation fuel would affect medium distance flights least.

The ICAO conference also offered discussions about voluntary reduction mechanisms. There is a clear increase in carbon neutral travel and the carbon market is growing exponentially. However this raises new issue concerning the credibility and the effectiveness of carbon compensation mechanisms (the next topic to be covered by J.Priskin in a forthcoming Globeveilleur).

Where to next

The ICAO conference suggests the airline sector needs to be a part of post Kyoto (2012), thus it endorses development of an emission trading system for international civil aviation. Air transport is, and has been an enabler of economic growth and it is a catalyst for growth. ICAO believes that global problems need global solutions and we need a co-coordinated approach to problem solving. The airline industry also knows that it will take Promethean solutions to improve the sector’s environmental performance.

As global forecasts suggest a growth of international arrivals by air, averaging up to 5 % till 2015, the tourism industry cannot continue to hide behind its clean image because it is a part of the service sector. Nor can it conveniently stay focused on destinations, and ignore that travel to and from them is up to 90 % of environmental problems, such as contributions to greenhouse gas emissions.

The good news is that some segments of the tourism market are showing signs of willingness to pay, although attitudes are highly diverse (Figure 1). Last May, the Canadian Tourism Commission reported that nearly 70% of Canadians would be willing to pay an extra $ 10 or more for every $ 1000 they spend on air travel, if the funds collected were used to develop sustainable resources of energy (Figure 1)

Figure 1: Amount Canadians are willing to pay to offset carbon emissions when traveling by air

JP_2007-07_vol_avion_conf_grphq1

Source: Canadian Tourism Research Institute, The Conference board of Canada.

Notes:

1. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations created in 1944 by the Chicago Convention. It has 190 contracting States and one of its strategic objectives is to minimize the adverse effect of global civil aviation on the environment. ICAO has a Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP), composed of public and private sector reps and NGOs representing the aviation industry.

2. At present emission standards exist for carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, unburned hydrocarbons and smoke.

3.. This research was on international tourism only and also excluded business travel for data reliability purposes concerning international arrivals by air.

Sources:
– Canadian Tourism Commission (2007) Travelers Keen on Going Green. Tourism Intelligence Bulletin Issue 39, May 2007. – Canadian Tourism Research Institute, The Conference board of Canada, Vancouver. 5 pp.
– International Civil Aviation Organization 2007. Presentations and statements from the ICAO Colloquium on Aviation Emissions with Exhibition, held in Montreal Canada 14 – 16 May 2007. [http://www.icao.int/EnvClq/CLQ07/Documentation.htm]
– Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (1999) Special Report: Aviation and the global atmosphere. Summary for policy makers. Geneva. 23 pp.
– Tol, R. S. J. (2007) The impact of a carbon tax on international tourism. Transportation Research. Part D 12. p. 129-142.
– United States Environmental Protection Agency (2000) Aircraft Contrails Factsheet. EPA430-F-00-005. Washington DC. 6 pp.
– Weissman, A. (2007). Binge Flying, sinful travel and paranoia. [www. travelweekly.com] 21, 2007. 2 pp.

Catégories
Issues Sustainable tourism

Going Carbon Neutral – The Greening of Travel

In the face of growing concerns about climate change, businesspeople, rock stars, and increasingly ordinary travelers are going ‘carbon neutral’ to counterbalance their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. This trend is an important step towards improving the environmental performance of travel.

Tourism contributes to human-induced climate change, because it consumes non-renewable natural resources en-route and at the destination. Transportation constitutes approximately 80% of the total environmental impact of an average tourist while the rest is attributed to consumption of various goods and services such as accommodation, hospitality, entertainment, activities and so on. However, since tourism is a non-traditional industry involving many economic sectors, no comprehensive statistics exist on its exact resource consumption pattern.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that globally, the transportation sector contributes about 13% of all carbon dioxide emissions, with passenger aviation alone representing 2 3%. The percentage attributed to other tourism-related land or sea transport is not commonly documented. Both tourism and passenger aviation are forecast to grow 4-5% respectively per annum till 2015. Thus, the growth of the travel industry remains one of the biggest issues in sustainable tourism.

The aviation industry continues to invest substantially to ‘green’ the sector and mitigate its contribution to climate change. The rest of the tourism industry also continues to improve its eco-efficiency, but milestones are yet to be made across the entire sector. For example, aircraft fuel efficiency improved 5% in 2004-2005 alone and an A380 or a B787 can transport 100 passengers for 3 L of fuel per km, which compares favourably to most cars. However, no air travel can be considered sustainable at the moment, due to the burning of non-renewable fossil fuels. Additionally, airplanes emit many noxious gases, whose impact is 4 times worse at 30 000 feet than at ground level.

Therefore, individual travellers must become more responsible via their consumption patterns. Although there is a trend towards ‘greener’ consumerism, recent research indicates that most tourists are not fully aware of their individual environmental impact or contributions to climate change. Despite the growing surcharges on air travel, the real price of travelling does not reflect its true environmental costs.

Options to mitigate the impacts of travel

Two options exist to improve the sustainability of travelling. One is to reduce emissions directly and the other is to compensate for the pollution. At some destinations, one can sometimes choose less polluting forms of transport, as well as ‘more responsible’ tourism products and services. Since simply travelling less is not favourable in terms of economic development, option 2 becomes a necessity.

Carbon neutral travel involves the voluntary purchase of carbon credits in offset projects, which compensate for the emissions generated. The cost and choice of carbon-offset projects depends on where one buys the offsets (Table 1). Most companies offer a range of investment options in energy efficient technology or Renewable Energy Certificates in wind, solar, biomass or geothermal power. The contribution to carbon sequestration projects via tree plantations is also a common mechanism.

Voluntary emission offsetting is a growing trend and globally it has grown from 1 million tonnes of carbon in 2001 to 9.5 million tonnes in 2004. There are no readily available statistics on the size of the overall voluntary carbon market, and certainly none yet for the tourism sector. The Kyoto Protocol outlines compulsory and voluntary strategies to compensate for emissions. The tourism industry, including the aviation sector is not (yet) regulated, so at present it has no obligation to address matters concerning climate change. In 2005, British Airways launched its own carbon offset scheme and encourages its clients to contribute to sustainable energy projects. In fact, carbon neutral travel is a mechanism to assuage one’s guilt about travel and consumption. For this reason, some people don’t agree with emission compensation because it is perceived as the ‘right to pollute.’

Table 1: Emissions estimates and the equivalent cost of offset certificates
offered by five companies for a return plane between Montreal and Orlando.

** based on emission calculations provided on the websites of respective
companies for a return trip of 3500 km. Currently, the average price for
a tone of C02 equivalent from the voluntary offset market is $1.25 at the corporate rate.

Some offset projects are controversial, as most have inherent disadvantages. For example, biodiesel from crops such as sugar and corn raises issues about genetic engineering. Further questions surround the real benefits of certain projects in developing countries, such as monoculture tree plantations for carbon sequestration. These plantations also lead to biodiversity loss, amongst other problems, and their effectiveness is altogether questionable. In the Kaikora District of New Zealand, the local council provides tourists with the opportunity to plant a tree during their visit, which is numbered and can be revisited in the future.

Overall, emission offsetting has been criticized because of costs, measures and certification and because compensating does not put pressure on people to switch from using fossil fuels to renewable energy. It also does not regulate polluting activities. Nonetheless, it needs to be encouraged as an interim measure. Clearly, the use of alternative energy from renewable sources will appear more viable and cost effective as technology advances.

In the meantime, travellers can choose to travel more responsibly by investing in offset projects, especially in technology, that will ensure a more sustainable future. In any case, sustainable development implies the ‘polluter pay’ principle and so travellers must improve their environmental performance. As Table 1 shows, the costs are not exorbitant. But first and foremost, travellers need to be educated about the consequences of their impact and the associated benefits of counteracting them before they can choose to become more responsible.

* Carbon refers to carbon dioxide gas. Carbon offset projects sometimes involve compensating for other greenhouse gases.

Sources:
– Baral, A. and Guha, G.S. (2004) «Trees for carbon sequestration or fossil fuel substitution: the issue of cost vs benefit.» Biomass and Bioenergy, 27 p.41-55.
– Becken, S. and Lane, B. (2006). «Air travel and the environment. An interview with Hugh Somerville.» Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 14(2) p.216-219.
– Becken, S., Simmons, D. G. and Frampton, C. (2006) «Energy use associated with different travel choices.» Tourism Management, 24. p. 267-277.
– Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2005) «News Release: Carbon offset scheme launched.» 12 September, 2005. 2 pp.
– Gössling, S., Bredberg, M., Randow, A., Sandström, and Svensson, S. (2006) «Tourist Perceptions of climate change: A Study of International Tourist in Zanzibar.» Current Issues in Tourism, 9(4-5) p.419-435.
– Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (1999) «Special Report: Aviation and the global atmosphere. Summary for policy makers.» 23 pp.
– Lynes, J. K. and Dredge, D. (2006) «Going Green: Motivation for environmental commitment in the airline industry. A case study of Scandinavian airlines.» Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 14(2) p.116-138.
– Van Kooten, G.C., Eagle, A.J., Manley, J. and Smolak, T. (2004) «How costly are carbon offsets?
A meta-analysis of carbon forest sinks.» Environmental Science and Policy, 7 p. 239-251.
– Various authors (2006) «New Internationlist.» July 2006. Issue 391.
Sur le web:
– Atmosfair
– Climate Care
– Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
– International Air Transport Association website
– My Climate via Sustainable Tourism International
– Native Energy
– Carbon Neutral Company

Catégories
Products and activities Sustainable tourism

Opportunities and Issues in eco-adventure tourism in Quebec (Conference Report)

The eco-adventure sector of Quebec is comprised of small to medium sized businesses with vast variations in client numbers and profits and this year’s annual AÉQ* conference highlighted the numerous challenges facing this industry. These are not radically different from those in other developed countries, but are typical of an emerging sector constrained by having to adhere to strict principles.

In the era of sustainable development, the social and environmental responsibility of businesses is paramount and this is remains a challenge in Quebec on many levels. Although a clear effort has been invested to organize eco-adventure tourism in Quebec, certain areas need improvement. Many of the issues, as their solutions are complex and interrelated, including small profits, acute seasonal fluctuations in visitor numbers, leadership, organizational structures and governance. This article is not an exhaustive discussion of all issues, but is a general report of what has been highlighted during the conference this year.

Human resource problems

Although economic trends suggest eco and adventure tourism continues to grow, numerous businesses seem to struggle with small profits, recruiting and keeping competent guides, ensuring fairness and equality of salaries (especially in remote areas and in winter). The reality of eco-adventure guides is difficult, in the face of very low salaries and limited professional recognition, as there are no industry standards for their employment in Quebec. This creates inequitable situations between businesses, as well as guides who are trained and experienced, and those who are not, and between guides from certain institutions and those belonging to professional associations. The ratio of « real’ employment opportunities in Quebec in adventure and ecotourism guiding vs. the number of trained guides on the job market is also an issue.

Regional development

The contribution of eco and adventure tourism to regional development is variable across the regions of Quebec. In general, regional development remains a big challenge for numerous reasons, notably in remote areas with limited infrastructure and service provision.

As elsewhere in the globe where regional economies are traditionally dependent on natural resources, Quebec struggles to favorably and quantitatively present ecotourism. For example, a mining company is often ready to invest 500 million $ and guarantees 300 jobs for 30 years. In the same region, an ecotourism company can say that 10 guides may be needed over this period (if all conditions remain favorable). This is difficult to resolve, but can be addressed firstly by having reliable studies that monitor the net social, economic and environmental benefits of ecotourism in Quebec.

Furthermore, it appears that the eco and adventure sector has a low profile in certain regions and is not always actively involved in important decision-making processes. A solution may be to be more proactive and communicate with elected members, as well as the general community, who need to be informed and educated about the values of ecotourism. Ecotourism can be relatively easily integrated into existing economic and social structures and harness partnerships that have multiple benefits. It appears that Quebec needs a more precise vision for eco and adventure tourism in each region, as well as a series of strategies and implementation plans for the medium and long-term in an economic, social and environmental sense.

Resources and Environment

The long-term prosperity of the industry depends on access to quality natural resources, which was a recurring theme throughout the conference. Equally, the threats created by extraction industries were emphasized (especially forestry and hydroelectric dams). The question of protected areas is a continuing issue and concern remains over the small % of protected areas in Quebec compared to global trends. The global challenge of providing access to protected areas whilst maintaining the quality of resources is equally pertinent in Quebec.

Quebec’s eco and adventure sector is working towards reducing negative environmental and social impacts through Leave No Trace, a proactive international program, adapted and implanted via AÉQ and its partners. The program aims to reduce and avoid negative impacts via education, research and partnerships, while ensuring the needs and satisfaction and needs of users. Although everyone agreed on the importance of the program, the reality of implementation and adaptation remains a challenge, often due to practical difficulties.

Products and Marketing

Quebec has a range of eco and adventure products, but it could improve its positioning in the face of fierce global competition as an eco-destination. How to sell Quebec’s winter ‘appropriately’ and ‘hot’ remains probably the biggest challenge. Given the climatic extremes, businesses could diversify their product and be more polyvalent. There is a need to create more networks around regional product themes, as highlighted by the noteworthy case of the ‘Appalachian Trail’. Many opportunities also remain to develop more combined ‘nature and culture’ products in Quebec. As it was well noted, if Americans can successfully develop products such as ‘in the footsteps of Henry D. Thoreau’, why can’t Quebec offer ‘along the trails of Vigneault’ on the Côte Nord? The regional product possibilities are festinating.

There is still room in Quebec’s eco-adventure sector to establish more local and regional cooperatives along the principles of solidarity as was highlighted, by the noteworthy case of Cap Jaseux. Similar opportunities exist in all regions between tour operators, hotels and others. Such cooperatives allow resource and knowledge sharing, and encourage product complementarities by reducing doubling-up. Furthermore, cooperatives enable more focus on creating unique, and high quality experiences. Although such alliances give synergy for the industry, the risks associated were well acknowledged. The case of Quebec Maritime also illustrated the values in regional networking for more efficient destination marketing.

Conclusion

Quebec’s eco-adventure sector is well on its way in implementing the principles of ecotourism, despite some challenges. Overall the industry is increasingly conscientious to ecologically manage business and clients, but some work remains in this area. Ecotourism has an important role to play in Quebec, primarily to be ahead of the rest of the tourism industry in implementing the principles of sustainable development and show how tourism can positively contribute to economic diversification in a responsible fashion. The latter is also the responsibility of the whole tourism sector, given recent policy orientations in Quebec. Aside from the above issues, work remains in other areas such as establishing a quality certification program and the monitoring of industry via reliable indicators. This could raise the profile of the sector and better inform decision-makers and reassure potential investors.

Source: http://www.aventure-ecotourisme.qc.ca/