New report: Transport-related CO₂ emissions from the tourism sector – Modelling results

UNWTO and ITF embarked on this research project with the aim of providing evidence of the CO_² emissions from tourism and the implications of the different modes of transport.

The report provides insights into the evolution of tourism demand across the different global regions up to the year 2030. It also presents the expected transport-related CO₂ emissions of the tourism sector against the current ambition scenario for the decarbonization of transport and sets the basis to scale up climate action and ambition in the tourism sector.
Some findings:

• Against a current ambition scenario, by 2030 transport-related CO_² emissions from tourism will grow 25% from 2016 levels (from 1597 Mt of CO_² to 1998 Mt of CO2).This growth in CO_² emissions will represent 5,3% of all man-made emissions in 2030 (from 5% in 2016).
• Intra-regional (within the same region) international travel represents 80% of all international arrivals both in 2016 and 2030 and is predominantly done by air, followed by car. Inter-regional (across regions) travel therefore represents 20% of all travel and is almost exclusively (95%) done by air.
• Transport-related emissions from international tourism are expected to grow 45% from 2016 to 2030 (from 458 Mt CO₂ to 665 Mt CO^₂). Transport-related emissions from domestic tourism are expected to grow by 21% from 2016 to 2030 (from 913 Mt CO^₂ to 1103 Mt CO^₂).
• Transport-related CO_² emissions of the tourism sector are 22% of the whole emissions from transport and therefore enhanced cooperation with the transport sector is essential to support the implementation of a high-ambition scenario.

At the same time, tourism has to determine its own high-ambition scenario, beyond transport; a scenario where tourism would transform towards low emission and highly efficient operations.

Related Links

• Download the report
• Watch the Climate Action video