The UN Climate Change COP29 took place from the 11th to the 22nd of November, 2024 at Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan. COP stands for Conference of Parties, the series of formal meetings where governments assess global efforts to advance the Paris Agreement; world leaders come together to measure progress and negotiate the best ways to address climate change. There are now 198 Parties (197 countries plus the European Union).
GSTC CEO, Randy Durband and GSTC Board Members participated in key events at the ‘Thematic Day on Tourism’ the COP29’s Presidential Initiative on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism, which has the objective to enhance the positioning of tourism climate action globally as a sectoral policy supporting national climate goals.
High-level Roundtable 1: Raising the Climate Ambition of the Tourism Sector – from commitments to implementation (measurement and decarbonization) in the Blue Zone.
Mr. Matt Callaghan, Chief Operating Officer, easyJet holidays and Ms. Inge Huijbrechts, Chief Sustainability and Security Officer, Radisson – both GSTC Board Members – participated in the panel discussion moderated by Professor Xavier Font, University of Surrey, along with:
- Ms. Liisa Kokkarinen, Head of Sustainable Development, Visit Finland
- Ms. Kathrine L. Johansen, Chief Advisor, Centre for Regional and Tourism Research, Denmark
- Dr. Ya-Yen Sun, Associate Professor, University of Queensland
- Ms. Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President, Advocacy & Communications, World Travel and Tourism Council
- Ms. Sally Davey, CEO, Travalyst
In line with the measurement and decarbonization pathways proposed by the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, this session explored the importance and complexity of measurement and decarbonization strategies in tourism. As the global tourism sector strives to reduce its GHG emissions, speakers highlighted the progress made in implementing effective decarbonization pathways.
High-level Roundtable 2: Raising the Climate Ambition of the Tourism Sector – from commitments to implementation (regeneration/adaptation and finance) at the “Earth” Conference Room, in the Green Zone. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr Willy Legrand, Professor, IU International University of Applied Sciences, Germany. Mr. Randy Durband, CEO, Global Sustainable Tourism Council participated as a speaker along with:
- Ms. Chompan Kulnides, Chief Sustainability Officer, Minor International
- Mr. Thomas Mills, Senior Climate Expert, Booking Holdings
- Mr. Jeremy Sampson, CEO, The Travel Foundation
- Dr. Anne Kathrin Zschieger, Executive Director, The Long Run
- Mr. Rusmir Musić, Operations Officer – Global Cooling Lead, Climate Business Department, International Finance Corporation
- Mr. Dominique Perron, EMEIA International Development Leader, Ernst & Young
In line with the regeneration and finance pathways proposed by the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, this session delved into the intersection of regeneration/adaptation efforts and innovative financing models. With a focus on how tourism can actively contribute to climate resilience and ecosystem regeneration. Speakers engaged deeply in sustainable food systems, biodiversity conservation, and nature-positive initiatives, as well as on the vital role of financing to scale up climate action.
GSTC Board Member, Mr. Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance also participated in the First Ministerial Meeting on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism.
Commenting on the launch of the COP29 Tourism Initiative, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev said, “The inclusion of tourism in the UN Climate Change COP29 Action Agenda for the first time, under the Presidency of Azerbaijan, represents a milestone for an important economic and environmental sector. Tourism is a major driver of economic growth and development, providing direct and indirect livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people. However, the sector is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, poses pressures on ecosystems, and is itself highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, biodiversity loss, and extreme weather events.
We are launching the COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism, which urges us to think creatively and collaboratively about how to transform tourism into a climate-resilient, low-carbon sector that contributes not only to economic development but also to global sustainability. At COP29, it’s time to enhance ambition and enable action. We need to protect our natural heritage to create a sustainable future for tourism and the environment.”
GSTC CEO, Randy Durband was also present at other panels during COP29. On the 20th of November, at the Blue Zone – Türkiye Pavilion, Mr. Durband participated in the “Sustainable Destination Management: Transformation of Tourism Industry and Destinations” panel; moderated by Prof. Dr. Hasan Ali Karasar, Rector of Cappadocia University, along with Dr. Elif Balci Fisunoglu (PhD), TGA’s Vice General Manager, Ziya Cihan, The Hotel Association of Türkiye TÜROB’s Board Member, and Yavuz Kayikci, Konya Metropolitan Municipality’s Smart City Management Branch Manager.
The speakers addressed different topics such as: the sustainable transformation of the tourism industry, how this transformation affects hoteliers, the good practices of Konya at becoming a finalist city at European Smart Tourism Capital and how GSTC ensures its sustainability standards are accessible to regions with varying levels of resources and awareness.
Mr. Durband was also part of the panel discussion “Destinations for Tomorrow: Skills and Sustainability in the Tourism Industry” that took place also the 20th of November, the Private Sector Capacities Day at the 6th Capacity-building Hub, organized by onepoint5, a consultancy that assists organizations in both the private and public sectors to accelerate their transition to sustainable practices.
Mr. Durband participated in the panel moderated by Alitzel Verspecht (Consultant onepoint5) along with Beverly Smith, Head of Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainable Tourism Global Centre, Gonzalo Canseco, Director, Research and Development of onepoint5, Paloma Zapata, CEO of Sustainable Travel International, and Renatus Mbamilo, Head of Research and Policy Association of Tanzanian Employers.
The Capacity-building Hub stands as one of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB) flagship activities, encompassing a series of sessions that delved into different capacity-building themes over the span of a week, coinciding with COP sessions. Following the mandate of COP 25, the PCCB undertakes the annual organization of Capacity-building Hubs in conjunction with the COP. The Capacity-building Hub is a direct response to the mission of the PCCB in enhancing coherence and coordination of capacity-building under the Convention and the Paris Agreement, addressing current and emerging capacity gaps and needs, and facilitating greater awareness of the scope and impact of capacity-building efforts.
The panel aimed to present an overview of emerging trends in sustainable tourism, emphasizing the development of new skills among policymakers and practitioners, while also sharing innovative approaches and opportunities for capacity building to address environmental and climate challenges. Additionally, it highlighted the importance of ambitious public sector policies paired with active private sector engagement to promote sustainability in the tourism sector.
