The carbon intensity of every euro spent on tourism is four times higher than the average across other service sectors. Just 20 countries are responsible for 75% of global tourism emissions. To align with the Paris Agreement, a 10% annual reduction would be required.
If It Were a Country, Tourism Would Be the World’s 3rd Largest Polluter
Tourism ranks as the third-largest global polluter, surpassing India, and remains one of the worst offenders. Its emissions are growing at twice the pace of the global economy, increasing by 3.5% annually between 2009 and 2019. Over that decade, emissions surged from 3.7 billion tons (Gt) of CO2 to 5.2 GtCO2, accounting for 8.8% of total global emissions.
Tourism plays a “crucial role” in shaping the trajectory of global emissions but has largely remained outside the spotlight. That’s the conclusion of a recent study published in Nature Communications, where a team of researchers led by the University of Queensland analyzed tourism emissions, their drivers, and potential solutions.
Tourism Emissions: A Global Breakdown
According to a recent study, tourism emissions stem from three main sources:
- Aviation (21% of emissions)
- Fossil fuel-powered vehicles (17%)
- Utilities like electricity (16%)
Air travel is the dominant contributor, driven by the ever-increasing number of tourists and the lack of progress in reducing aviation emissions. Fossil fuel-powered vehicles also leave a significant footprint. Overall, technological efficiency in the sector has grown by just 0.3% annually – far too little to offset the rising demand for tourism.
What sets tourism apart is its carbon intensity compared to other sectors. For every dollar spent in tourism, the carbon footprint is 30% higher than the global economic average and four times greater than in the services sector.
Who Pollutes the Most?
Tourism’s environmental impact is closely tied to socioeconomic conditions. Unsurprisingly, just 20 countries account for 75% of global tourism emissions.
However, the countries driving the most significant increase in emissions might not be what you’d expect. The U.S., China, and India collectively contributed 60% of the growth in tourism emissions between 2009 and 2019. The U.S. leads the pack, with nearly 1 Gt of emissions in 2019 – 19% of the global total. But rising prosperity in Beijing and New Delhi has also fueled a sharp increase in emissions from tourism.
On a per-capita basis, Australia (3.4 tons), New Zealand (3.1 tons), and the U.S. (3 tons) top the list of the most carbon-intensive tourist countries.
What Can Be Done?
To align with the Paris Agreement, the tourism sector would need to cut its emissions by 10% annually—a daunting challenge. The study identifies several key measures to address this crisis:
- Measure and reduce emissions in critical areas like aviation, energy, and transportation.
- Curb over-tourism by setting sustainable growth limits, especially in the 20 highest-emitting countries.
- Promote short-haul markets and reduce demand for long-haul flights through carbon taxes and emissions budgets.
- Advance global equity by addressing disparities in per-capita emissions.
Without urgent action, tourism risks continuing its outsized role in driving global emissions upward.
