Tourism Heads to COP31 Wanting Results, Not More Pledges
COP31 runs Nov 9-20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, co-hosted with Australia, as tourism operators demand verifiable results over new pledges.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- COP31 takes place from November 9-20, 2026, in Antalya, Türkiye, co-hosted with Australia.
- Sustainability leaders demand measurable outcomes and emissions cuts rather than new pledges.
- Tourism features on the human and social development thematic day on November 18 for the third year.
- Revised operational guidelines mark the fifth anniversary of the Glasgow Declaration at the conference.
Five years after signing the Glasgow Declaration, the tourism industry finds itself equipped with numerous climate commitments yet lacking shared proof of actual achievements. As the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP31, prepares to kick off next week, tourism operators have made it clear to Skift that they now want to see concrete receipts rather than continued planning.
The 31st climate summit is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026. Co-hosted alongside Australia, this fresh round of talks is officially billed as the implementation COP, following last year's failure among parties in Belém, Brazil, to agree on a definitive path forward.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Ahead of the summit, the Brazilian COP30 presidency published voluntary roadmaps on Tuesday designed to transition away from fossil fuels and protect forests. These roadmaps aim to help policymakers put existing climate commitments into practice through national policies, investments, and measurable outcomes, serving as an indicator for the upcoming discussions.
COP31 marks a critical juncture as extreme weather, wildfires, and stringent European greenwashing regulations mount pressure on the travel sector. The insistence of sustainability executives on verifiable outcomes over broad promises highlights a growing demand for transparency regarding the sector's 2030 halving emissions targets.
Sven Wiltink of Radisson Hotel Group pointed out that inconsistent measurement of emissions, water, energy, and waste remains a major hurdle, arguing that without common metrics, comparisons are meaningless and claims remain unverifiable.
"Comparisons are meaningless and claims remain unverifiable without common metrics."
Sven Wiltink, Radisson Hotel Group
Susanne Etti of Intrepid emphasized that the sector requires actual electrification and falling emissions rather than additional commitments, targets, or frameworks. She added that resilience, adaptation, and loss and damage funding have grown increasingly urgent following a year marked by extreme heat, wildfires, and severe flooding.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Meanwhile, Danielle D'Silva of Booking Holdings noted that the industry still has room to expand its efforts in both climate adaptation and emissions reductions. COP31 also commemorates five years since the introduction of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, which has gathered over 900 signatories. Co-author Jeremy Smith announced that revised operational guidelines will debut at the conference, aiming to reduce the reporting burden and bring in companies that previously remained on the sidelines. Tourism will occupy a dedicated thematic slot on November 18 inside the human and social development day for the third consecutive year.
Source: Skift
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment