TBM Staff - Mumbai
A recent study published in Nature Communications has revealed a sharp increase in greenhouse gas emissions from tourism, which grew from 3.7 gigatonnes in 2009 to 5.2 gigatonnes by 2019. Major contributors include aviation, utilities, and private vehicles, with emissions from tourism rising more than twice as fast as those from the rest of the global economy. The sector now accounts for nine percent of global emissions, raising concerns about its alignment with the Paris Agreement targets.
The study, led by researchers at the University of Queensland, attributed 60% of the increase in emissions to three countries—India, the US, and China. China’s domestic tourism alone contributed 0.4 gigatonnes, followed by the US at 0.2 gigatonnes and India at 0.1 gigatonnes. Factors such as population growth, rising income levels, and a surge in travel demand among emerging economies have been identified as key drivers.
If the top 20 highest-emitting destinations had curbed their tourism growth by just 1% annually between 2009 and 2019, an estimated 0.38 gigatonnes of emissions—seven percent of global tourism-related emissions—could have been avoided. Corresponding author Ya-Yen Sun highlighted the urgent need for interventions in the tourism sector, cautioning that without action, emissions are projected to double every 20 years due to slow technological progress and growing demand.
The study calls for immediate measures to decarbonise tourism and urges policymakers and industry leaders to align with climate targets. With sustainable practices and technology adoption, the sector could achieve the necessary annual emissions cuts of over 10% to meet Paris Agreement goals and ensure a sustainable future for global tourism.
