UN official: Tourism accounts for 8.8% of global carbon emissions

The tourism sector accounts for 8.8% of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere worldwide, Executive Secretary of the UN Environment Programme Inger Anderson stated at the First Ministerial Meeting on Enhanced Climate Action in the Tourism Sector held on the sidelines of COP29 in Baku, Report informs.

"By 2030, global carbon emissions must decrease by 41% to stay within the 1.5 C temperature rise limit. If we only reduce carbon emissions by 28%, we will reach the 2 C threshold. Therefore, we only have 5 years left to work in this regard," Anderson emphasized.

According to her, 8.8% of global emissions come from the tourism sector: "Some 70% of this figure is attributed to transportation. Additionally, the tourism sector consumes materials such as plastics and others. There are great opportunities to move towards sustainability in the tourism sector."