Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism

In February 2024, Welcome to Fife signed the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, joining many other organisations, businesses and destinations committing to a common set of pathways for climate action. The process, consulted with the Fife Sustainable Tourism Group will involve creating a climate action plan and reporting on an annual basis on progress against interim and long-term targets.

What is the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism?

The intent of the Glasgow Declaration is to urge and enable all travel and tourism stakeholders to sign and demonstrate, for the first time as a united sector, a shared voice and commitment to aligning the sector’s climate ambitions with scientific recommendations and international agreements.

What is the aim of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism?

The Glasgow Declaration aims to unite everyone in the tourism sector around a common set of pathways for climate action, by:

• defining a clear and consistent sector-wide message and approach to climate action in the coming
  decade, aligned with the wider scientific framework and urgency to act now;
• outlining the pathways and specific actions that will accelerate tourism’s ability to transform
  tourism and achieve Net Zero as soon as possible;
• encouraging signatories across all sectors of tourism to demonstrate their public support for
  scaling up the sector’s response to the climate emergency.

What do the signatories commit to?
By becoming signatories, organisations commit to:

• Support the global commitment to halve emissions by 2030 and reach Net Zero as soon as
  possible before 2050;
• Deliver climate action plans within 12 months from becoming a signatory (or updating existing
  plans), and begin implementing them;
• Align their plans with the five pathways of the Declaration (Measure, Decarbonise, Regenerate,
  Collaborate, Finance) to accelerate and co-ordinate climate action in tourism;
• Report publicly on an annual basis on progress against interim and long-term targets, as well as
  on actions being taken;
• Work in a collaborative spirit, sharing good practices and solutions, and disseminating
  information to encourage additional organisations to become signatories and supporting one
  another to reach targets as quickly as possible

What are the five pathways defined in the Glasgow Declaration?

Measure: Measure and disclose all travel and tourism-related emissions.
Decarbonise: Set and deliver science-based targets to accelerate tourism’s decarbonisation.
Regenerate: Restore and protect ecosystems, supporting nature’s ability to draw down carbon, as well
as safeguarding biodiversity, food security, and water supply.
Collaborate: Share evidence of risks and solutions with all stakeholders and our guests, and work
together to ensure our plans are as effective and co-ordinated as possible.
Finance: Ensure organisational resources and capacity are sufficient to meet objectives set out in climate
plans.

We are now working on a climate action plan to sit alongside the Fife Tourism Strategy.

Any other questions please contact promoting.fife@fife.gov.uk