sueddeutsche.de
Tourism's Growing Carbon Footprint: Emissions Doubled Since 2009
A new study reveals that global tourism produced over 5.2 billion tons of CO2 in 2019, representing 8.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and growing at twice the rate of overall emissions; aviation and private car travel are the largest contributors, with high-emission countries like the US, China, and India accounting for 75% of tourism emissions.
- Which transportation modes contribute most significantly to tourism's carbon footprint, and which countries are the largest emitters?
- Aviation is the largest source of tourism emissions, followed by private car travel. High-emission countries like the US, China, and India account for 75% of tourism emissions, while domestic travel within those countries makes up two-thirds of emission growth. Germany ranks fourth globally and has a disproportionately high share of tourism emissions compared to its global average.
- What is the current annual CO2 output of the global tourism sector, and how does its growth rate compare to overall global emission growth?
- Global tourism generated over 5.2 billion tons of CO2 in 2019, accounting for 8.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This represents a 3.5% annual increase since 2009, twice the rate of overall emissions growth. Unless this growth slows, tourist emissions could double every 20 years.
- What policy changes are necessary to curb the environmental impact of the tourism sector and ensure the sector achieves its climate neutrality goals by 2050?
- To meet climate targets, tourism emissions must decrease by 10% annually. However, current efficiency gains in the sector are insufficient to counterbalance continued growth. Policies such as reducing aviation subsidies and halting airport expansion could help mitigate emissions by promoting alternative travel options.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the issue by emphasizing the negative environmental impact of tourism, using strong language like "immer stärker belastet" (increasingly burdens) and highlighting the rapid growth of emissions. The headline also contributes to this framing. While the article presents facts, the selection and emphasis create a negative narrative.
Language Bias
The article uses strong language to emphasize the negative aspects of tourism's environmental impact. For example, "drastisch reduziert" (drastically reduced) and "schadet dem Klima" (harms the climate) are emotionally charged phrases. More neutral alternatives could include 'significantly reduced' and 'negatively impacts the climate'.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses on the negative impacts of tourism on the climate, but omits discussion of potential positive impacts, such as economic benefits to local communities or cultural exchange. It also omits discussion of sustainable tourism practices beyond the mention of "Sustainable Aviation Fuels", which limits the reader's understanding of potential solutions.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a false dichotomy by suggesting that the only solutions are technological fixes or reducing flights, neglecting other options such as promoting slower travel, reducing consumption, and supporting sustainable tourism initiatives.
Sustainable Development Goals
The study reveals that global tourism contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, exceeding 8.8% of the global total. The sector's growth rate in emissions is double the global average, indicating a substantial negative impact on climate action goals. Despite industry pledges for climate neutrality by 2050, the current trajectory is far from achieving this target. The reliance on technological solutions like sustainable aviation fuels is deemed insufficient to offset the rapid growth in tourism-related emissions.