A landmark international study has found that despite twenty years of climate pledges, the global tourism industry has made scant progress towards reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, calling into question the sector’s commitment and strategies for climate action. The research, carried out by teams at Sweden’s Linnaeus University and Canada’s University of Waterloo, analyzes the effectiveness of climate declarations from leading tourism organizations and governments since 2003. The findings reveal that while climate commitments abound, meaningful results—especially in terms of emissions reductions—remain elusive, raising urgent concerns for countries like Thailand where tourism is a national economic pillar and environmental sustainability is increasingly central to policy and public debate (Skift).
The significance of this research is particularly salient for Thai readers as Thailand ranks among the world’s top tourist destinations, welcoming over 39 million international arrivals in the pre-pandemic year of 2019 (UN World Tourism Organization). Tourism’s contribution to national GDP, local livelihoods, and ecosystems such as national parks, coral reefs, and northern highland forests links Thailand’s prosperity tightly to the sector’s resilience and environmental impact. But as highlighted in the study, tourism is not only vulnerable to climate change—think rising sea levels threatening coastal resorts, or heatwaves altering traditional travel seasons—but is itself a massive and growing emitter, currently responsible for an estimated 9% of global greenhouse gases.
The new research, led by tourism scholars from Linnaeus University and the University of Waterloo, scrutinizes four major climate agreements: the 2003 Djerba Declaration, the 2007 Davos Declaration, the 2021 Glasgow Declaration, and the 2024 Baku Declaration. While each effort showcases strong rhetoric and widespread buy-in—from governments to industry giants such as Booking Holdings and Expedia—the actual outcomes remain limited. “The tourism sector’s response to climate change over the last two decades has been insufficient,” the report concludes, noting that, despite increasing sophistication in tracking and measuring emissions, real reductions have not materialized.
One longstanding challenge has been the absence of robust accountability mechanisms. For example, the Davos Declaration in 2007 pledged to develop an emissions monitoring system, but no such system materialized. Even the more recent Glasgow Declaration, signed in 2021 by over 900 organizations, saw less than 30% of signatories file climate action plans by late 2024—a statistic that raises tough questions for global and national agencies alike. UN Tourism, the international body formerly known as the UN World Tourism Organization, says the Glasgow agreement is an important milestone because it introduces, for the first time, a monitoring framework to aid transparency and reporting. “We are working on the first progress report which should be out in the next few months,” explained a UN Tourism programme coordinator in the study.
In the context of the latest, 2024 Baku Declaration, progress appears mixed. It was hailed as the most significant climate agreement yet within global travel, signed by 69 countries—including not only tourism ministries but entire national governments: countries such as Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Israel, Portugal, Russia, and Kenya put pen to paper. A representative from UN Tourism explained, “This is the most significant agreement in travel and tourism to date,” referencing the scale and supposed seriousness of commitments. However, critics including the study’s authors, point to vague phrasing such as “where applicable” and “where relevant,” which allow for much leeway in implementation and therefore risk weakening the declaration’s effectiveness.
For Thailand, these international declarations and their progress—or lack thereof—are not mere abstractions. Thai tourism leaders and government agencies have repeatedly cited climate action as a strategic priority, releasing sustainability roadmaps and supporting eco-certification schemes for hotels, transport, and travel businesses (Tourism Authority of Thailand). Yet as the research makes clear, high-level pledges do not automatically translate into decarbonization, especially when tourism is reliant on high-emission sectors like aviation, cruise ships, and mass transportation. The challenge is compounded for tourism-dependent economies such as Thailand’s islands, where both natural asset protection and mass tourism emissions must be carefully balanced.
Expert opinion from the research authors emphasizes that time is running out. “It has taken 20 years just to build basic systems to measure emissions. In another 20 years, the sector is expected to be close to net zero. That’s a vastly more complex and costly goal,” they note, underscoring the gap between aspiration and implementation. Other voices, such as that of a Linnaeus University tourism professor quoted by Skift, urge the industry to take on a pioneering leadership role: “Tourism, ironically one of the sectors most exposed [to climate change], can become a leader. We need systemic change, yes. But we also need pioneers.”
Within Thailand, scholars, environmental groups, and senior Ministry of Tourism officials have echoed similar sentiments in recent years, highlighting the importance of more integrated national climate strategies for the sector (Bangkok Post). While initiatives like the “Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA)” promote sustainability and health, robust, science-based targets for emission reduction specifically remain rare or voluntary rather than binding. As the effects of climate change—from coral bleaching in the Andaman Sea to droughts in northern tourist hubs—become more pronounced, calls to accelerate transition to lower-carbon tourism are growing louder.
Historically, Thai society places strong cultural importance on nature and community, drawing inspiration from King Rama IX’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, which promotes balance, restraint, and sustainability (UNDP Thailand). Incorporating such traditional values may help contextualize and drive meaningful climate action within tourism, localizing international commitments for broader societal acceptance and practical impact.
Looking forward, an important question is whether international bodies such as UN Tourism will be able to coordinate the sector’s long-promised global partnership for climate change—a process now nominally underway following the Baku Declaration, but as yet without clear structure or deadlines. According to the study, UN Tourism is best positioned to lead this coordination, but its effectiveness will hinge on strong, inclusive engagement by governments, businesses, and non-state actors alike. “Will it be more effective if we have a variety of stakeholders at the table—such as businesses, non-state actors, governments, tourism bodies?” asked UN Tourism. “That way any agreements will be collective ones and I think that will be more effective in the long run.”
At the policy level, expert observers argue that bold national frameworks tailored to the realities of each tourism-dependent country—backed by investment in low-carbon transport, renewable energy, and circular economy systems—are needed to catalyze meaningful change. For Thailand, this could mean more binding regulation on emissions, targeted support for climate-smart tourism SMEs, prioritization of low-season and domestic travel, and incentives for airlines and cruise operators to decarbonize routes serving Thai destinations.
For communities, businesses, and travelers, there are immediate steps that can be taken. Responsible travel choices—such as selecting eco-certified accommodation, opting for train or bus transport where feasible, minimizing waste, and supporting local, sustainable businesses—are increasingly available and impactful. Thai tourism businesses stand to gain competitive advantage and positive global recognition for ambitious, authentic climate action, while local communities benefit from improved environmental health and resilience.
In conclusion, as the study starkly reminds us, declarations alone cannot solve the climate challenge facing global tourism or preserve the assets upon which Thailand’s economy and culture depend. The gap between promises and performance narrows only through collective, honest engagement; robust, measurable goals; and an unwavering commitment to both global science and local wisdom. Stakeholders at every level—policy-makers, businesses, communities, and travelers—can and must play their part in ensuring the next twenty years tell a very different story.
For those wishing to support meaningful progress, practical steps include advocating for transparent tourism emissions reporting at all levels, choosing certified low-impact travel providers, participating in local conservation efforts, and staying informed on the latest evidence-based climate action strategies. With climate change increasingly touching every aspect of life in Thailand, making tourism a model of sustainability is more urgent than ever.
Sources: Skift, UN World Tourism Organization, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Bangkok Post, UNDP Thailand