COP30 and the Future of Tourism: Embracing Climate Adaptation and Resilience, All You Need To Know

At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the Global Sessions on Climate Action in Tourism brought together leaders from across the travel and tourism industry to focus on how the sector can accelerate its response to climate change. The six-hour virtual event, organised by Travalyst, the Travel Foundation, and UN Tourism, was aligned with the official tourism thematic days at the climate summit. It marked a pivotal moment as the tourism sector moved from commitment to implementation, reinforcing the importance of climate action for the future of global travel.

The discussions highlighted that, despite tourism’s significant contributions to the global economy, accounting for roughly 10% of global GDP and one in ten jobs, its role in climate action has often been sidelined in national climate strategies. However, the growing recognition of tourism’s impact and potential role in climate solutions at COP30 underscored the urgency of integrating tourism more fully into national and international climate frameworks. This is essential to ensuring that the sector contributes meaningfully to global climate goals.

Shifting from Commitment to Action: Key Takeaways from COP30

As the world faces increasing climate risks, COP30 served as a reminder that the 2026–2030 window will define the future of tourism. It’s a critical period for scaling up action, with an emphasis on implementing climate strategies across data, finance, policy, and governance. The key messages from the event focused on several urgent priorities for the sector:

1. Scaling Implementation for the Future of Tourism
   From 2026 to 2030, the tourism sector must move beyond fragmented actions to coordinated, data-driven, and finance-ready transformation. This involves scaling up efforts in all areas, from community partnerships to technological innovations that can help tourism mitigate climate change impacts.
2. Incorporating Tourism into National Climate Plans
   A significant focus of COP30 was the need to integrate tourism into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). By doing so, countries can ensure that tourism is recognised not only as a sector vulnerable to climate impacts but also as a key player in global climate solutions.
3. Adapting Tourism to Changing Climates
   Tourism is already being disrupted by climate change, with rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and ecosystem degradation reshaping travel destinations. The sessions emphasised the urgent need for locally driven, community-centered adaptation strategies. By supporting nature restoration and local economies, tourism can help build resilience against climate impacts, with a focus on vulnerable communities, particularly in the Global South.
4. Data as a Catalyst for Change
   One of the major challenges highlighted during the sessions was the lack of accessible and consistent data within the tourism sector. While the first version of Travalyst’s Data Hub was introduced as a foundational step, the need for interoperability, shared standards, and trusted data infrastructure remains critical to drive system-wide transformation in tourism’s climate action efforts.
5. Regeneration and Ecosystem Restoration
   Another key insight from COP30 was the growing traction of regenerative tourism. Regeneration, which focuses on restoring ecosystems and strengthening communities, was identified as a practical pathway to guide capital flows and destination strategies. It was emphasised that regeneration must be more than an abstract concept, it should be integrated into the practical operations of tourism businesses and destinations.
6. Collaboration for Sector-Wide Change
   The session underscored that no single actor, whether governments, businesses, NGOs, or travellers, can drive transformation in tourism alone. To scale climate action, there needs to be shared understanding, prioritisation, and action. The Glasgow Declaration for Climate Action in Tourism continues to serve as the unifying framework for the sector, aligning efforts across the five key pathways: Measure, Decarbonise, Regenerate, Collaborate, and Finance.

The Road Ahead: Structural Changes for Resilient Tourism Destinations

The discussions at COP30 also pointed to the need for structural change in how destinations approach sustainability. Voluntary, business-by-business actions were deemed insufficient. Instead, there is a call for collective action, stronger regulations, and policy reforms to address climate impacts effectively. Destinations need to overhaul existing systems to build long-term resilience against climate disruptions, with science-based support systems guiding these efforts.

The “Where Next?” report from the Travel Foundation further highlighted the need for systems change, emphasising that current structures are not equipped to handle the climate challenges tourism faces. There is a pressing need to rethink how tourism operates, moving from incremental to transformative action that reduces emissions, tackles social injustice, and promotes resilience.

The Future of Tourism in a Changing Climate

COP30’s Global Sessions on Climate Action in Tourism have made it clear that the tourism sector is at a crossroads. To meet the challenges of climate change and build a sustainable future, the industry must move from commitments to meaningful, large-scale action. By integrating tourism into national climate strategies, scaling up adaptation efforts, leveraging data, and embracing regenerative practices, the sector can play a crucial role in both mitigating and adapting to climate change.

As we look towards 2026 and beyond, the lessons from COP30 provide a roadmap for transforming tourism into a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable sector. The time for action is now, and the tourism industry must be an active participant in the global effort to address climate change.

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