Why ‘The “Good Tourism” Blog’ won’t be declaring a climate emergency
The short answer is: It’s not “GT’s” role!
At writing, 26 tourism organisations and five individuals had declared a global climate emergency on behalf of the multi-trillion dollar travel & tourism industry.
Among the signatories is “GT” Friend Susanne Becken who, in her declaration and plan, quotes Greta Thunberg: “I don’t want your hope, I want you to panic”.
Dr Becken agrees that “we need to panic” but wants hope as well.
But only hope is useful. I don’t recommend panic in any situation. And life guards are trained to stay well clear of panicky people in case they take everyone down.
Yet given the state of “emergency” (or “panic”?) being declared by Dr Becken and her fellow signatories, the published plans to date take a very relaxed attitude.
Take aeroplane trips, for instance. Some plans don’t mention aviation at all. Others seek to reduce, but not eliminate the numbers of flights taken for work or for leisure or by their customers or by their colleagues, and will offset those they do take.
If there is indeed an emergency, I cannot reconcile how the immediate dump of greenhouse gases by a flight can be justified by contributing to offset programs that presumably have a more medium- to long-term effect. Indeed, if there is an emergency, I can’t reconcile how anything other than local travel is justified.
My recently published “It’s not ‘no’. It’s ‘know’ … a “Good Tourism” travel tip for the new decade” offers no certainty about anything but suggests that if one knows something — and there is always more to know — then one should act accordingly. Well, again, I struggle to see how the actions committed to by the signatories are commensurate with the gravity of a declaration of “climate emergency”.
Perhaps it all hinges on the definition of “emergency”? Perhaps, when paramedics rolled climate change into each signatory’s Accident & Emergency department for assessment, the triage nurses identified other priorities, such as career and business and lifestyle? Perhaps, when all is said and done, it is very much like how politicians prioritise jobs and the economy and consumer spending?
I assume that the intentions of all the signatories to this initiative are good and honourable. However, it would be very easy to interpret all of this “declaration of climate emergency” stuff very cynically.
At least one declaration/plan acknowledges this: “… as a travel company reliant on customers flying round the world we recognise that just by publishing this policy, we are opening ourselves up to accusations of greenwashing”.
Convincing cynics and those who don’t already buy into the science of anthropogenic climate change will be the biggest challenge to this interesting initiative.
The “Good Tourism” Blog won’t be joining these organisations and individuals in this endeavour, because:
- given the state of the politics surrounding the issue, it is inappropriate for an impartial travel & tourism industry media outlet to do so;
- the requisite knowledge, expertise, or faith to come to that sort of firm conclusion is humbling;
- I believe that one must be prepared to act as if what one declares is true; and
- [Added here after this post] Tourism Declares’ meek submission to “system change” and unspecified regulatory authority makes the industry vulnerable.
However, I will follow the progress of Tourism Declares Climate Emergency & its signatories with great interest. And I look forward to publishing their “GT” Insights should they be willing to share them (contribution guidelines here).
This open invitation is made in the same independent and open-minded spirit of free speech and inquiry as its “GT” Insight Partnership with SUNx — Strong Universal Network, which of course is advocating strong action.
Featured image: Illustration of woman on suitcase in stormy sea being attacked by gulls. By unknown (CC0) via pxfuel.
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