Climate change

The carbon footprint of tourism accounts for about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions; transport, shopping, and food are significant contributors. [1]

Aviation is likely to be the largest CO2 emitting sector in the UK by 2050 and has climate warming effects beyond CO2, which will be important to monitor and consider within future policies. [2]

In 2017 cruise ships accounted for 15% of the nitrogen oxide (NOx) particles emitted by all of Europe's passenger vehicles, and released large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), phosphorus (P4), soot, heavy metals, and other particulates into the atmosphere. [3]

Hotels, homestays, and rentals rely on heating and air conditioning to keep guest rooms comfortable in hot or cold climates. They create CO2 (more or less depending on the energy source), as do the water heaters used to warm showers, pools, and spas. Again depending on the source, the electricity used to power lights, TVs, refrigerators, laundry machines, and other equipment are additional sources of CO2 emissions.

Food and food systems from production, transportation, and waste are responsible for 34% of all human GHG emissions. This is worsened by the amount of food waste, in the UK and around the world. [4]