13. Climate Action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

More specifically, the associated targets of SDG 13 focus on the integration of climate change measures into national policies, the improvement of education, awareness-raising and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warnings.

2030 Agenda

Commitment to protect the planet from degradation and take urgent action on climate change.

The Agenda also identifies climate change as “one of the greatest challenges of our time” and worries about “its adverse impacts".

Impact on coastal areas and low-lying coastal countries, including many least developed countries and Small Island Developing States

The survival of many societies, and of the biological support systems of the planet, is at risk

What can tourists do to help reach this goal

Tourism stakeholders should play a leading role in the global response to climate change by reducing its carbon footprint, in the transport and accommodation sector.

Examples of initiatives around the world

Co2 compensation by Better Places (The Netherlands):

Travelling by plane produces high levels of CO2 emission.
Better Places is an initiative taken by a group of 13 Dutch tour operators.
Better Places makes journeys CO2 neutral by investing in more efficient cookers in Ghana and solar energy in Thailand.

Enhancing the climate resilience of tourism-reliant communities

The principle resource bases of tourism are Samoa’s pristine beaches and its coastal, lagoon and reef areas. 70% of Samoa’s population live within the coastal strips.

Many operators and reliant communities of Samoa are exposed to the impacts of climate change-induced natural hazards and rising sea-levels.

This project focuses on expanding the resilience of natural and socio-economic systems in tourism-related operations and areas and on supporting communities to weather climate change.

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