Letter from SUNx Malta to Heads of UNWTO: UNEP and UNFCCC and signatories of the Glasgow Tourism Declaration

With support from the Government of Malta, we have set up a global Climate Friendly Travel (CFT) framework to support climate resilience and sustainability in tourism companies and communities anywhere in the world. The key elements incorporate engagement of Youth and a Registry of Code Red Climate Friendly Travel ambitions and action.

SUNx Malta is one of the charter signatories to the Glasgow Declaration for Tourism, and we fully support the goals of the Declaration. (Although arguing our sector needs to go further faster with a DASH to Zero if we are to respond adequately to the Code Red Climate Crisis).

We have taken note of the Glasgow commitment to report publicly what actions are planned and actually taken, as well as to show what progress is being made.  We have also noted the strong call for collaboration as one of the key Glasgow pathways to accelerating transformation.

It is in this spirit of collaboration, we are offering to provide the CFT Registry as a neutral vehicle for companies and communities to list their climate and sustainability action plans, as well as to record progress over time. This will also allow full transparency for travelers and residents There is no charge for using the Registry thanks to the support of the Government of Malta for our programs. Similarly there will be no costs for the Glasgow Declaration partners.

The CFT Registry was specifically created to provide an entry into the UNFCCC Global Climate Action Platform (GCAP) for tourism companies and communities that are serious about climate change and sustainability. At the launch in 2020, together with the Minister of Tourism of Malta and the President of WTTC, the then Executive Secretary of UNFCC wrote the following to us:

“There is no doubt that the climate challenge is presently outpacing us and requires urgent, global action. Travel & Tourism has an enormous role to play and can have, through its actions, positive impacts. As the UN Secretary-General Guterres has said, it is imperative that we rebuild the sector in a “safe, equitable and climate friendly” manner. Business as usual is not an option.

In this context, I welcome the opportunities that the Climate Friendly Travel Registry offers to Travel & Tourism organisations to develop, register and promote their climate strategies, plans and achievements in support of the goals of the Paris Agreement.

I look forward to seeing Travel & Tourism organisations participating in this sectoral Climate Friendly Travel Registry as well as redoubling their efforts to ensure a climate neutral and resilient world by 2050 at the latest.

We sincerely believe that this facility can help especially small and medium sized tourism operators in the Global South.

We look forward to working together towards practical action at COP27 in Egypt.