SECRET PARADISE SIGNS GLASGOW DECLARATION ON CLIMATE ACTION IN TOURISM
At the end of December 2023, over 850 organizations had signed the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism and Secret Paradise Maldives is proud to announce that we have recently added our signature and commitment.
We might have come to the declaration party a little later than many of those 850 organisations, but it was crucial for us to ensure we had the necessary tools in place to accurately measure and evaluate our emissions. We didn’t want to merely sign for the sake of following the crowd; we wanted to affirm our commitment to a cause we truly believe in with the processes and tools to take action.
The Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism unites travel and tourism behind a common set of pathways for climate action, aligning the sector with global commitments and catalysing collaborative solutions to the many challenges facing businesses and destinations globally. The Glasgow Declaration encourages the acceleration of climate action in tourism by securing commitments to reduce emissions in tourism by at least 50% by 2030 and achieve Net Zero as soon as possible before 2050.
As a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, Secret Paradise has committed to aligning its actions with the latest scientific recommendations, so as to ensure its approach remains consistent with a rise of no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
WHAT COMMITMENT IS SECRET PARADISE MAKING?
Secret Paradise Maldives commits to:
– Support the global commitment to halve emissions by 2030 and reach Net Zero as soon as possible before 2050.
– Deliver climate action plans within 12 months from becoming a signatory (or updating existing plans), and begin implementing them.
– Align plans with the five pathways of the Declaration (Measure, Decarbonise, Regenerate, Collaborate, Finance) to accelerate and co-ordinate climate action in tourism.
– Report publicly on an annual basis on progress against interim and long-term targets, as well as on actions being taken.
– Work in a collaborative spirit, sharing good practices and solutions, and disseminating information to encourage additional organisations to become signatories and supporting one another to reach targets as quickly as possible.
The implementation of the Glasgow Declaration is led by the UNWTO in collaboration with the Travel Foundation and Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency, within the framework of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme.
You can read full details about our Climate Action and Climate Action Plan HERE.
WHAT IS THE GLASGOW DECLARATION ON CLIMATE ACTION IN TOURISM?
The intent of the Glasgow Declaration is to urge and enable all travel and tourism stakeholders to sign and demonstrate, as a united sector, a shared voice and commitment to aligning the sector’s climate ambitions with scientific recommendations and international agreements.
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE GLASGOW DECLARATION ON CLIMATE ACTION IN TOURISM?
The Glasgow Declaration aims to unite everyone in the tourism sector around a common set of pathways
for climate action, by:
– defining a clear and consistent sector-wide message and approach to climate action, aligned with the wider scientific framework and urgency to act now.
– outlining the pathways and specific actions that will accelerate tourism’s ability to transform tourism and achieve Net Zero as soon as possible.
– encouraging signatories across all sectors of tourism to demonstrate their public support for scaling up the sector’s response to the climate emergency.
WHAT ARE THE FIVE PATHWAYS DEFINDED IN THE DECLARATION?
– Measure: Measure and disclose all travel and tourism-related emissions.
– Decarbonise: Set and deliver science-based targets to accelerate tourism’s decarbonisation.
– Regenerate: Restore and protect ecosystems, supporting nature’s ability to draw down carbon, as well
as safeguarding biodiversity, food security, and water supply.
– Collaborate: Share evidence of risks and solutions with all stakeholders and our guests, and work together to ensure our plans are as effective and co-ordinated as possible.
– Finance: Ensure organisational resources and capacity are sufficient to meet objectives set out in climate
plans.
As a sustainable tour company, we believe it is crucial for Secret Paradise to have a Climate Action Plan in place. We have a deep-rooted commitment to responsible and positive impact travel and we believe that sustainable and responsible tourism should be the norm within the travel and tourism the industry.
Secret Paradise guests travel with the intent of experiencing the natural beauty, culture, and marine life of the Maldives. To continue offering these experiences, it is our duty to ensure that the environment, which is integral to our tours, remains pristine and healthy. We encourage all Maldives tourism stakeholders to play their part in accelerating climate action and support the work being carried out at a destination level to develop and implement climate action plans.
