New campaign for climate change action in travel industry

Announcing the new initiative, long time green tourism campaigner Geoffrey Lipman UNWTO Assistant Secretary-General said: “What Copenhagen represents is a new commitment by the world community towards sustainable low carbon growth patterns. (file photo)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, December 23, 2009 – ‘Live the Deal’, an innovative, global campaign to help travel companies and destinations respond to Climate Change, reduce their carbon footprint and move to the Green Economy, was launched during the Copenhagen Climate Summit.

Announcing the new initiative, long time green tourism campaigner Geoffrey Lipman UNWTO Assistant Secretary-General said: “What Copenhagen represents is a new commitment by the world community towards sustainable low carbon growth patterns. The targets and mitigation actions that countries develop and negotiate through this process will be a new base for travel industry action.”

“What we are providing is a very simple way to get behind the evolving government initiatives, to keep pace with changing patterns and to demonstrate that our sector is acting, not simply talking,” he added.

“We should not be ashamed to promote the growth of smart travel – clean green, ethical and quality - it’s the lifeblood of trade, commerce and human connection”.

‘Live the Deal’ will seek to encourage the sector directly and through representative organisations.

It has been developed with the support of UNWTO, whose Secretary-General Dr Taleb Rifai calls it “the kind of link between global policymaking and responsible tourism action that we are looking to inspire and encourage”.

“Our sector fuels the economy, creates jobs and is one of the biggest development opportunities for the world's poorest countries – and it can be a leader in the transformation to a green economy,” he said.

The campaign will be underpinned by a simple carbon calculation tool that allows easy correlation with government targets and implementation measures, as well as a Think Tank and Annual Innovations and Investment Summit which will be held in Abu Dhabi in the last quarter of 2010.