Page 269 - Çevre Şehir İklim İngilizce - Sayı 2

Muhammed Demiralp

global emissions (WTTC, 2021). The elements that increase carbon footprint
to such degrees include emissions caused by transport types, accommodation
and activities organized in the sector (Sevim, 2009).
Due to tourism sector, the transport modes used by countries and between
countries, most of which run on fossil fuels, result in a rise in greenhouse gas
emissions, which in turn are responsible for global climate change. In tourism-
based emissions in 2030, compared to the ones in 2016, a 25% increase is
expected. This figure will represent 5,3% of the global emissions as of 2030
(UNWTO-ITF, 2019). According to UN data, the greenhouse gas emissions
caused by transportation based on solely tourism sector are given below
(UNWTO-ITF, 2019):
• Greenhouse gas emissions based on transportation in tourism
sector make up around 22% of the total transportation emissions.
• Transportation in the same area for tourism usually involves air travel
followed by highway travel, which represents 80% of the whole
tourism transportation.
• Transportation between areas for tourism constitutes 20% of all
touristic trips, although 95% of such travels are made by plane,
which causes high levels of emissions.
• Greenhouse gas emissions due to international tourism are
estimated to increase from 2016 to 2030 by 25% to 45%.
The carbon footprint caused not just by transportation for touristic purposes,
but also by the tourist existence in tourist destinations, which results in the
consumption of natural resources energy, food, water resources, etc. likely to
have an adverse impact on climate change (UNWTO, 2022a).
In line with the commitment mentioned in Paris Agreement to limit global
temperature increase caused by climate change to 1,5°C and below 2°C
compared to pre-industrial era, it is essential for tourism sector to decrease
greenhouse gas emissions starting from carbon dioxide, which is important
for the survival of the sector (Gössling and Scott, 2018).
In this regard, the fight against climate change in tourism sector for
sustainability and flexible tourism activities have become crucial elements for
the resilience of the sector. The adoption of a low carbon in tourism sector and
the mitigation of sector-based greenhouse gases by 50% through 2030 seem
to be the current issues in international agenda in tourism sector. Especially
due to the restrictions imposed during COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 7%
decrease in the global greenhouse gas emissions due to tourism activities in
2020. However, this figure does not show to suffice for the 1,5 °C goal in Paris
Agreement (UNFCCC, 2021).

255 Journal of Environment, Urbanization and Climate