“A complete collapse of the Gulf Stream beyond the 21st century cannot be excluded,
which would radically affect the climate of the northern hemisphere” THE CARBON TRUST
Sensatori Crete is one of Tui’s “greener and fairer” hotels
It is widely believed that climate change could exacerbate floods and droughts over the next 100 years
carbon reduction target of 6% two years earlier than it had originally committed to, and as a result was raising its target to 9% by the end of 2014. “As a company operating more than
140 aircraft, Tui Travel appreciates the scale of the challenge to shape our business for a low-carbon future,” John Lundgren, Tui Travel’s deputy chief executive, tells WTM. “We are working hard to drive down carbon across our own operations and to help those in our supply chain do the same.” Last year, TUIfly was named most climate-
efficient charter airline worldwide by German climate change offsetting organisation Atmosfair. “We have made public our measurable commitments to operate Europe’s most fuel-efficient airlines,” said Lundgren, “and to take 10 million customers on ‘greener and fairer’ holidays by 2015 and report regularly on our progress.” Tui’s commitment to publicly measuring
and reporting its impacts has not gone unnoticed. For the sixth year running, the company has been included in the Ftse 350 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index, making it not just the only travel company
in there, but with a score of 92% it is ranked among the top 10%. “We are delighted that our hard work
towards carbon reporting and reduction has been rated so highly,” says Lundgren. “As a group, we fully understand the challenges related to responsible tourism and we are committed to forging a sustainable future for our business and the industry.”
The new lobbyists It’s one thing to measure the impact of an aircraft engine, but it’s considerably harder to measure a hotel’s impacts on climate change. Earlier this year, Green Globe announced the re-certification of Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai, having improved its score to more than 90% thanks to a host of green initiatives such as the installation of motion sensors for lights and air conditioners and seeking to work with environmentally friendly suppliers. Speaking to WTM, Jumeirah’s chief executive Gerald Lawless says: “The major issue is to use every opportunity to apply best practice when it comes to the reduction of usage of non-recyclable
materials. Wherever possible, hotels should recycle as we do at Jumeirah. Recycling cooking oil and using grey water for irrigation are just two examples of a number of initiatives that we take to manage our carbon footprint.” Both Jumeirah and Tui have this
year joined 20 other major hotel groups (including Accor, Fairmont, Hilton Worldwide, InterContinental Hotels Group, Mandarin Oriental, Marriott, Starwood Hotels and Wyndham Worldwide) to create a level playing field for measuring hotel carbon emissions, thus making it easier for the public to compare hotels with one another through the newly launched Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative. “The industry’s willingness and
ability to come together to make sense of the carbon issue, for the benefit of the customer, is a significant achievement and a great example of practical, effective collaboration on a critical environmental concern,” says Stephen Farrant of the International Hotel Partnership, which worked with WTTC and KPMG to create the initiative.
TUIfly was named most climate-efficient charter airline by Atmosfair last year
The bottom line Rafts of measurements and certifications can put a financial burden on industry, but the experience of the panellists taking part in the WRTD debate shows that progressive approaches to climate change and other sustainability issues should not be seen as an irksome cost. As Van Schalkwyk explains: “When we address this challenge our mind-set should not be one of competition between tourism and the environment.” Rather, consider that: heating can account
for 60% of a hotel’s total energy costs, and lighting around 20%, according to the Carbon Trust. And Tui’s actions haven’t just made it popular with green groups. This year, it told shareholders it saved £16 million in 2012 through greater environmental efficiencies. For tourism businesses looking to succeed in the future, getting to grips with climate change issues isn’t just the responsible thing to do – it’s the right one too.
n Hear Gerald Lawless, Johan Lundgren and Marthinus van Schalkwyk debate climate change from 10.30-11.30am today on the WTM Stage – Platinum Suites 3 & 4
06.11.2013 29
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