In a historic first, tourism will assume a central role at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The industry will join the high-level climate agenda through a dedicated Ministerial Meeting on Climate Action in Tourism. This event, scheduled for November 20, resulted from a collaborative push by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency and was celebrated by the G20 Tourism Ministers in Brazil as a milestone for the sector.
The presence of Tourism Ministers at COP29 highlights an unprecedented move to integrate tourism into climate strategies, encouraging governments to address the sector’s impact and potential in the fight against climate change. The event will commence with the launch of the “Baku Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism,” a call for countries to align their tourism policies with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) outlined by the Paris Agreement. The declaration is expected to inspire stakeholders across governments, tourism entities, and the United Nations Climate Change Agenda to take transformative steps towards sustainable tourism.
A suite of high-level roundtables will follow the ministerial meeting, focusing on key areas crucial to sustainable tourism: measurement and decarbonization, adaptation and regeneration, finance, and innovation. These sessions will set the foundation for a comprehensive tourism climate agenda, aligning with the UN Secretary-General’s advocacy for economy-wide approaches to climate goals.
As the world increasingly recognizes tourism’s role in climate action, the UNWTO is championing two major initiatives during COP29:
Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism – Launched at COP26, the Glasgow Declaration now boasts hundreds of signatories committed to sustainable tourism practices. At COP29, this initiative will expand its reach, calling for more entities to sign on and prioritize five strategic pathways: measurement, decarbonization, adaptation, collaboration, and finance. The declaration aims to solidify tourism’s place within national climate policies.
Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (MST) – Formally acknowledged by the UN Statistical Commission in 2024, the MST Framework will be highlighted as a key tool for evaluating tourism’s environmental impact, including greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. This shift from traditional GDP-centric models to more comprehensive metrics underscores the sector’s commitment to transparency and evidence-based action.
Furthering climate responsibility, the UNWTO and the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan will open a public consultation on a Position Paper exploring the integration of tourism in NDCs. This consultative process aims to refine approaches for tourism stakeholders to support national and global climate targets.
COP29’s spotlight on tourism reflects the sector’s evolution from a traditionally economic powerhouse to an environmentally accountable industry. By fostering collaboration between government bodies, industry leaders, and climate advocates, COP29 stands as a defining moment for tourism’s role in a sustainable future.
