Long-standing member of the IIPT board, Timothy Marshall, would like to remind us that IIPT has been at the forefront of important global issues; and given the burning issue of Climate Change this world is facing, it\u2019s timely to remind ourselves of an important declaration\u00a0adopted at Lusaka, Zambia, 20 May 2011:<\/p>\n
THE LUSAKA DECLARATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE<\/strong><\/p>\n
Participants in the 5th IIPT African Conference conclude:<\/p>\n
The global challenges facing humanity call for global solutions and cooperation at all levels \u2013 and by all sectors, public and private, and civil society as a whole \u2013 on an unprecedented scale.<\/p>\n
Peace will be an essential prerequisite to achieve this level of cooperation, and peace will also generate the additional economic wealth to fund these solutions.<\/p>\n
That travel and tourism \u2013 the world’s largest industry, affecting every sector of society, in virtually every nation \u2013 an industry that is founded on peace, and that contributes to peace and understanding \u2013 has a key leadership role to play in achieving these solutions.<\/p>\n
That travel and tourism has a central role to play in creating jobs with dignity, foreign exchange earnings, the development of disadvantaged areas, poverty reduction, and the promotion of understanding peace, love, unity and progress among all peoples,<\/p>\n
communities and nations on the African continent, and throughout the world.<\/p>\n
And therefore call on all sectors of the travel and tourism industry to:<\/p>\nLou D\u2019amore, Tukwini Mandela, Timothy Marshall<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
Support the leadership role of UNWTO, UNEP and WMO in the specific actions<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
called for in the Davos Declaration: Climate Change and Tourism \u2013 Responding to Global Challenges.<\/p>\n
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Give emphasis to energy conservation and aggressively make the transition to renewable and clean energy sources as a foundation for carbon\/GHG neutral development strategies and a ‘Green Growth’ transformation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
Continue to implement socially and environmentally responsible tourism practices that benefit local destinations and enhances both cultural and natural heritage, giving particular emphasis to fair trade in tourism practices, tourism that contributes to poverty reduction, and tourism that contributes to the restoration of ecological systems.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
Provide for quality tourism experiences that include meaningful interactions between visitors (guests) and the host community, and a greater understanding and appreciation of local cultures, customs, and traditions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
Implement environmentally responsible development and operational practices, particularly in vulnerable areas including coastlines, low lying areas, and mountain regions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
Develop and implement waste management plans that give emphasis to reducing, recycling, and re-use.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
Incorporate quadruple bottom line reporting with climate change alongside<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic value.<\/p>\n
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Actively engage local communities in planning and decision-making, empower<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
women and youth, and embrace the wisdom, knowledge, and values of indigenous peoples.<\/p>\n
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For the transport sector, and particularly the airline industry, continue efforts in improving engine efficiencies and ultimately develop engines that operate with clean and renewable energy sources.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
Recognize the important role of media, educational, and religious institutions as agents of change.Governments and International Development Agencies:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
Provide incentives to tourism projects that utilize green designs\/technologies, contribute to creating sustainable livelihoods, poverty reduction, and the U.N. Millennium Development Goals.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
Only approve projects that adhere to globally recognized sustainable tourism<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
certification standards, and that incorporate construction designed to withstand severe storms and other effects of climate change.<\/p>\n
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Not allow heavy water consuming projects where water is in limited supply.<\/li>\n
Develop Disaster Management Plans that include phases for Risk Reduction, Readiness, Response, and Recovery.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
Recognize that certain forms of tourism ARE an adaptation strategy.<\/li>\n
Encourage more research and monitoring of emerging trends related to the inter-connectedness of tourism \u2013 environment \u2013 and climate change, and provide web-based tools for the sharing and integration of research findings such as has been done in Botswana: www.Botswanatourismresearch.org<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n