Published Date: Mar 25th, 2024
Welcome to Fife has become a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism.
Welcome to Fife will now join over 840 signatories worldwide including VisitScotland, Visit Inverness Loch Ness, national tourism boards, hotel groups, destination management organisations and tour operators.
The Glasgow Declaration, led by UN Tourism and One Planet Network aims to hasten climate action by supporting tourism businesses, destinations and institutions to develop and implement climate action plans with the aim of halving emissions by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2050.
The declaration unites travel and tourism behind a common set of pathways for climate action, aligning the sector with global commitments and creating collaborative solutions to the many challenges facing businesses and destinations globally.
The tourism industry has both a responsibility and an opportunity to protect the resources it depends on, including the environment, wildlife, and cultural heritage that bring travel experiences to life. Tourism can contribute significantly to climate change, and Welcome to Fife are committed to reducing its impact. As sustainable tourism gains prominence as a key visitor demand, it presents an opportunity for growth and resilience in the sector.
Signing the Declaration aligns with the newly updated Fife Tourism Strategy, which has placed responsible tourism as a key priority. The new strategy includes sustainability being a core message which will be at the forefront of all Welcome to Fife campaigns.
Spokesperson for Finance, Economy and Strategic Planning, Councillor Altany Craik, said: “Businesses are already making changes towards achieving climate action goals and becoming more sustainable. As more and more visitors become conscious of the climate emergency and sustainable travel, it’s vital that our businesses become even more sustainable to meet these demands. Operating sustainably can offer businesses savings on cost, food, and electricity, increase staff engagement and retention, and help meet increasing customer demand. A circular economy can help create a more resilient and inclusive Fife. By signing the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism we can continue to help businesses in Fife thrive, while also addressing the climate emergency.”
Fife Council declared a climate emergency in September 2019, and has since been delivering the Climate Fife Action Plan, with a refreshed and recharged Climate Fife Strategy and Action Plan approved in 2024. Any work carried out in line with the Declaration will fit in with the Council’s Climate Action Strategy and in consultation with climate action partners.
Cllr Jan Wincott, Fife Council Spokesperson for Environment and Climate Change, said: “Tourism is an important asset for Fife, so it is great to raise awareness of Fife action on climate and nature emergencies and recognise the value of shared action in Fife.”
The next step in this journey will be the formation of a tourism climate action plan which will be developed in line with the Climate Fife Action Plan, with consultation with the Fife Sustainable Tourism Group and training provided by Expedia Group.
