Q) The European Travel Commission and UNWTO Symposium on
Tourism & Travel in the Green Economy, to take place in Gothenburg and sponsored by VisitSweden on September 14-15. What is it about?
A) This event is an important element of the Davos Declaration Process and the Copenhagen Seal the Deal Imperative - it's even more important as a small step in the strategic global transformation to a Green Economy .
Q) Please expand on that.
A) From the UN system to the OECD to the G20 - including pivotally China, India, Brazil and South Africa there is recognition of the imperative of:
- long term shift from fossil fuel to low cabon renewable energy
- resource and biodiversity conservation
- green consumption, production and accounting
- inclusion of all countries on a fair and equitable basis, with technology, capacity building and financing support for the poorest
- wide range of market and regulatory mechanisms to encourage efficiency and innovation
- linkage of environment technology and information communication technology to enable and mange the shift.
Q) What is OECD?
A) That's the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD is an international organisation helping governments tackle the economic, social and governance challenges of a globalised economy.
Q) While you used the word 'imperative', practically speaking, how long of a process will these 'imperative' issues take to address?
A) We know this is a long term measured shift from now to 2050: we now it has to start fast with tough targets to stabilise the earth’s temperature at reasonable levels: we know it will have different levels of intensity for different countries for social and developmental reasons and for trade and poverty coherence: we know if we start now the cost and the pain will be tough but bearable - and that cost and consequence will increase exponentially with every procrastination: and we know we have no alternatives.
Q) Are there any regions or countries for which these 'imperatives' apply to more or less?
A) All countries and regions are important in this evolution and some are pivotal - Europe and the US because they have such massive impacts today in carbon output and leadership potential; China, India and Brazil because of their dynamic economic emergence and their population impacts; Africa, much of South America and Island States because of their vulnerabilty and at the same time their green potential.
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Sustainable Travel
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