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Climate change delay costs industry a trillion dollars a year
Ecologist says pxxxing around
After recognizing that the ‘All inclusive’ debate was bubbling along and needed more research, Jonathan Porritt laid into the travel industry’s lethargic attitude to climate change.
“Guess which industry is the biggest loser”…”stop pxxxing around”
He said that recent reports indicated that at least a trillion dollars a year were being lost to industry as a result of continued inaction on carbon emissions.
Porritt was the keynote speaker at the Travel Foundation annual meeting which included presentations from the Greening Sri Lanka hotel project, Co-operative Group sustainability initiative and Ian Chapman of TUI on volunteering.
Clearly Porritt was the star of the show – starting with a recognition of the potential dangers posed by all-inclusives and the need for research, he swiftly moved on to the immense cost implications of climate change denial, obfustication, delay and politicking – resulting in a trillion dollars a year of costs building up in the system.
He was particularly angry about the UK government’s move to withdraw climate change education from the curriculum SEE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2002890/Pseudo-science-climate-change-lessons-says-schools-adviser.html
“And which industry will be the biggest loser?” said Porritt. He emphasized the problems that the industry would face through further delay.
Finishing on an upbeat note, he outlined the opportunities for the world from a green economy and the combination of web technology and green energy revitalizing the world’s economy.
Srilal Miththapala provided an insight into the Sri Lanka hotel greening programme supported by EU and the Travel Foundation followed by Chris Shearlock of the Co-operative Group who outlined the organisation’s wholehearted approach to sustainability which included management bonuses for hitting environmental targets and a commitment to Carbon Offsets.
The benefits of volunteering were emphasized by TUI’s Ian Chapman, who worked his way up in the TUI organization, from resort repping to Director of Holiday Experience.
Finally, Sue Hurdle and Mike Greenacre gave an update on Travel Foundation projects including the news that Cyprus Tourism is to make sustainability part of their quality standards.
Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite details HERE
Valere
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