Relative Green House Emissions for different tourisms: how measurably ecofriendly is ecotourism

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Relative Green House Emissions for different
tourisms how measurably eco-friendly is
ecotourism?

• David M. Bruce
• Bristol Business School,
• University of West of England
• David.Bruce_at_uwe.ac.uk
• For Royal Geographical Society Aug 2006

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GUILT or GWILT,

• This paper uses and discusses the 'Global Warming
  Index for Leisure Tourism GWILT as a method for
  comparing the relative global warming impact of
  different tourisms.

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distinguishing tourism from leisure

• the transport (travel) element that or leisure
  with the mobility dimension and mobility with
  the pleasure dimension

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Henleaze
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Henleaze
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Henleaze
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The global impact of tourism

• Tourism is (more or less) leisure with the
  mobility dimension (Urry) and mobility with
  the pleasure dimension
• the transport (travel) element is the principal
  difference and that has been growing fast in
  recent years,
• yet its impact has received less attention

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Some recent literature reviewed

• The science eg Peeters summary the industry
  apologists eg Somerville, Lipman the offsetters
  eg Climate Care/Jardine
• the locals eg Hoyer Norway the globalists eg
  Becken (later)
• Bases for comparison the footprinters Goessling
  (2002)
• No comparators
• No what ifs for tax changes

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Dear Fritz
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Basic Survey Requirements for calculating a GWILT
Index

• Origin
• And/or intermediate starting point?
• ?
• Mode(s) of transport
• ?
• Load Factor (estimated )?
• Time or Distance
• (convertible by average speed)
• Duration
• How long is this trip/holiday in total?
• How long are you spending in this particular
  area?

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ethnographic research

Trains around Europe
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GWILT INDEX (LINEAR SCALE)
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GWILT Index (Log scale)
standard
100
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GWILT Index
standard
100
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GWILT Index
standard
100
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GWILT Index
standard
100
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measurable global impact comparison

• clearly presented, using estimates of CO2
  emissions.
• Most though not all tourism CO2 impacts are
  transport based maybe 90 for longhaul

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the UNESCO taxonomy

• Human and Natural and mixed World Heritage Sites
  (Tourism)
• The 830 sites of outstanding universal value
• other cultural tourisms can be added
• and 'massified' tourism compared

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Human and Natural World Heritage Sites Tourism

• Human World Heritage examples
• a single masterpiece Leonardos Last Supper,
  Milan
• interchange of human values reflected in
  architecture or town-planning Zanzibar
• a unique testimony to a civilization which is
  living or disappeared The Pyramids
• an outstanding example of a type of building or
  landscape Cornish mining landscapes
• an outstanding example of a traditional human
  settlement especially when vulnerable Harar
  Jugol, Ethiopia
• associated with events, beliefs, or literary
  works of outstanding universal significance.
  (preferably with other criteria) Auschwitz

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Human and Natural World Heritage Sites Tourism

• Natural World Heritage Criteria 2005
• superlative natural phenomena or exceptional
  natural beauty GBR Giant's Causeway NI
• outstanding examples of major stages of earth's
  history GBR Giant's Causeway NI
• outstanding examples of on-going ecological and
  biological processes GBR Plitvice Lakes,
  Croatia
• to contain the most important natural habitats
  for in-situ conservation of biological diversity
  GBR Ichkeul, Tunisia
• GBR Great Barrier Reef

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• Ecotourism tourism involving small groups in
  remote locations
• may be even more transport intensive
• and as such may be less sustainable in global
  terms than mainstream tourism

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Transport Impact

• Developing more eco-friendly ecotourism requires
  analysis of its transport impact.
• Reducing the impact of transport
• is dependent on shifting the balance between the
  dominant and most polluting forms of transport -
  car and plane - and their alternatives.

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even for ecotourism

• tourists, local tourism providers, tour operators
  and destinations remain unaware of the effects of
  their decisions and choices

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• information may be even more important
• than price in changing personal but particularly
  corporate choice.

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BA and Climate Care

• This certifies that
• D N E M BRUCE
• has offset 0.10 tonnes of carbon dioxide
  emissions in Climate Cares projects to repair
  the global warming caused by recent air travel.
• Tom Morton, Climate Care
• 14 June 2006
• EburstDavid.Bruce_at_uwe.ac.uk

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Diversion or Destination?

• SLOW TOURISM
• Walkers of the world unite,
• You have nothing lose but your
• . I open it to the audience.!