Nature Positive Travel and Tourism
A United Vision for Nature - 'Nature Positive' Report Marks New Collaborative Era in Travel & Tourism
At COP15 in Montreal, in December 2022, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), UN Tourism and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance announced a new collaboration to unite public and private sectors towards a shared nature positive vision for travel and tourism to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Signatories from the travel and tourism sector pledged to adopt a nature positive approach to tourism. This includes integrating biodiversity safeguards, reducing carbon emissions, mitigating the impact of pollution, curtailing the unsustainable use of resources, and protecting and restoring nature and wildlife.
This new alliance aims to inspire and support governments, businesses, and civil society in implementing the Post-2020 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), particularly Targets 14, 15, & 16, focused on mainstreaming, assessing and reducing impacts, and promoting sustainable use, respectively. As one of the primary instruments for the sustainable use of biodiversity, the travel and tourism sector plays a pivotal role in implementing the GBF.
Launched on 22 April, Earth Day 2024, "Nature Positive Travel & Tourism in Action" is the first joint outcome of the high-level Nature Positive Tourism Partnership as the sector's pledge to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the UN's Biodiversity Plan.
The report presents more than 30 case studies of inspiring and progressive actions from around the world involving large and small businesses, national and local government agencies, civil society groups, and inter-sectoral partnerships.
By offering actionable guidance and insights, this report not only highlights the intrinsic link between biodiversity and tourism's resilience, but also empowers businesses to become stewards of nature.
