As we are nearing the end of 2023, I am struck by the unlimited mental visuals of the year that is going by. I have to rush to keep pace as I document a few. The first thing that strikes my mind is how world tourism recovered swiftly. By the end of the first quarter, tourism numbers went to 80% of pre-pandemic levels, wherein the Middle East was the first to recover, as reported by UNWTO.
How does this impact the world, and specifically, the planet?
It has been reported that one in 10 worldwide jobs is created by tourism (Economic Impact Report by the World Travel & Tourism Council, 2017). Further, it has a compounding effect on the regional economy by supply of foreign currency that helps in major infrastructural investments in the region. Tourism is also an export earner for nations. Another significant outcome is a stronger global cultural exchange.
On the flip side, tourism results in the depletion of natural resources, energy, food, etc. due to increased consumption. This can be particularly detrimental to scarce resources. Left un-monitored, tourism can result in soil erosion, higher pollution, littering, water shortage, compromised wetlands and wildlife terrains, depletion of flora and fauna, pressure on sea-life, deforestation – and in fact, even possible altered ecosystems. During the pandemic, carbon emissions nose-dived, and wildlife flourished.
As per a report published by The Guardian, tourism significantly contributes to the climate crisis – about 8% of global emissions (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/02/tourism-industry-climate-crisis). Water levels are rising somewhere while water bodies are drying up elsewhere, vegetation has changed, many more wild fires are reported, more storms are seen, temperatures are unpredictable. For that matter, seasons and geographies have changed the world over.
We need to adapt! Mindfully! We need to put in place systemic measures – locally, regionally, and globally. This is the time for us to demonstrate strong corporate social responsibility. We need more and more organizations to come forward and do ESG reporting. It is likely that not all regions in the world will face the same issues. However, that may not stay true as time progresses. Going by the increasing intensity with which the world is experiencing climate change, today’s problem for one country will most likely become tomorrow’s problem for another country.
A good starting point for every organization would be to build its own “House of Sustainability”. A simple framework that covers three basic elements of sustainable development – environment, society, and governance. A business can look into its inherent strengths & capabilities, and focus on some key initiatives that address each of these three elements, and set up objectives to combat climate change and other sustainability issues. These may be aligned with the UNSDGs. Teams can brainstorm together and identify a few realistic and practical initiatives that will help to attain such objectives. A governance process can be put in place to track the progress of such initiatives and measure their effectiveness. We need to incorporate Sustainability in our annual budgets, and our strategic planning processes. No doubt, there will be challenges along the way. However, they cannot be more severe than turning a blind eye to climate change and its adverse impact. This is one change that is irreversible, and we need to individually as well as severally, put on our marching shoes and tread upon this much-needed initiative.
Perhaps we are too late. Or perhaps we are not. Let us all combine our efforts and work towards Sustainability, and help save our precious planet!
So, are you ready to embrace the Sustainability Framework? Reach out to me for any queries or for a discussion 🙂
Stay tuned for more.
Best,
Indu Singhal
Call/WhatsApp: +971-50-4567066
Email: indu@ebm-international.com
Author of “Build & Work”
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