Report on Sustainable Tourism Initiatives in Latin America

Aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

The tourism sector in Latin America is increasingly adopting data-driven strategies to mitigate its environmental impact, directly contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A recent analysis focuses on the carbon footprint of air travel to the region, providing critical insights for fostering sustainable growth in line with global climate targets.

Carbon Footprint Analysis and its Role in SDG 13 (Climate Action)

A comprehensive study by tourism intelligence firm Mabrian examined the carbon footprint generated by long-haul air travel to seven key Latin American destinations. This initiative underscores a commitment to SDG 13 by measuring and managing CO₂ emissions, a crucial step in combating climate change.

Scope of the Analysis

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Chile
• Colombia
• Mexico
• Peru
• Uruguay

Methodology: Innovation and Responsible Consumption (SDG 9 & SDG 12)

The report’s methodology provides a framework for promoting responsible tourism patterns (SDG 12) through industry innovation (SDG 9).

Calculating Emissions Per Passenger

The carbon footprint per passenger is a primary metric, calculated using standards from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This data is instrumental in developing air connectivity strategies that are both competitive and sustainable. Key factors in the calculation include:

• Aircraft cabin class
• Route-specific load factors
• The ratio of passengers to cargo

Key Findings: Progress Towards Sustainable Infrastructure and Economic Growth (SDG 9 & SDG 8)

The analysis reveals significant progress in the efficiency of long-haul routes, which is essential for building resilient infrastructure (SDG 9) and promoting sustainable economic growth (SDG 8).

Drivers of Increased Efficiency

Improvements in reducing the CO₂ emissions per passenger are attributed to several strategic actions undertaken by airlines, demonstrating a partnership for the goals (SDG 17):

1. Fleet Renewal: Introduction of newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft.
2. Optimized Load Factors: Strategic planning to maximize passenger capacity per flight.
3. Use of Larger Aircraft: Deploying larger planes on high-demand routes to reduce the per-capita footprint.
4. Cost-Efficiency Measures: Airline efforts to reduce fuel expenses, which directly correlates with lower CO₂ emissions.

Country-Level Performance in Emissions Reduction

The study highlights varied progress among the nations in their efforts to reduce the carbon footprint per incoming visitor.

• Significant Progress: Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay have demonstrated notable reductions in CO₂ emissions per passenger over the last year. Chile, in particular, has shown substantial efficiency gains on long-haul routes from Australia and New Zealand.
• Areas for Improvement: Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil recorded an increase in their carbon footprint per visitor, indicating a need for enhanced focus on route efficiency and sustainable aviation practices.

Conclusion: A Strategic Path to Sustainable Tourism

The use of carbon footprint analysis is a critical tool for Latin American destinations to align their tourism development with the Sustainable Development Goals. By optimizing air route efficiency, the region can effectively balance economic growth (SDG 8) with environmental stewardship (SDG 13). Continued collaboration between destinations and airlines (SDG 17) is essential for advancing this agenda and positioning Latin America as a leader in sustainable tourism.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The article discusses “sustainable tourism development” and balancing “environmental impact with growth,” which aligns with the goal of promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. The focus is on making the tourism sector, a key economic driver, more sustainable.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article’s emphasis on reducing the carbon footprint from air travel to major destinations relates to making human settlements more sustainable. Reducing CO₂ emissions per visitor contributes to mitigating the adverse per capita environmental impact of tourism on these destinations.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The core theme of the article is promoting sustainable tourism practices. By using “carbon footprint analysis” and optimizing routes, the tourism sector is moving towards more responsible consumption and production patterns, specifically within the context of travel and tourism services.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire piece is centered on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by “reducing their environmental impact” and tracking the “carbon footprint generated by air travel.” The efforts to reduce “CO₂ emissions” from long-haul flights are a direct climate action measure.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article highlights a partnership between Mabrian, a “global tourism intelligence partner,” and various Latin American destinations. This collaboration to conduct a “comprehensive study on the environmental impact” exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership aimed at achieving sustainable development goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 8.9: Promote sustainable tourism

• The article directly addresses this target by describing how “Latin American destinations are focusing on tracking the carbon footprint” as a way to “foster sustainable tourism.” The goal is to design “sustainable tourism strategies” that balance economic growth with environmental protection.

Target 11.6: Reduce the environmental impact of cities

• The focus on reducing the “carbon footprint per passenger” for flights into major Latin American countries is a direct effort to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of tourism on these destinations, which aligns with this target.

Target 12.b: Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable tourism impacts

• The article explicitly discusses the use of “carbon footprint analysis” as an “essential tool for sustainable tourism development.” The study by Mabrian, which calculates the “carbon footprint per passenger,” is a clear example of implementing a tool to monitor the environmental impacts of tourism.

Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into policies and planning

• The article shows that destinations are integrating climate considerations into their tourism strategies. The use of carbon footprint data to design “air connectivity strategies that balance competitiveness and sustainability” is a form of integrating climate change measures into sectoral planning.

Target 17.17: Encourage effective public-private partnerships

• The collaboration between the tourism intelligence firm Mabrian and the seven Latin American countries to analyze and reduce the carbon footprint of tourism is a clear example of a private-public partnership working towards a common sustainability goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicator for Target 12.b and 13.2: Carbon Footprint per Passenger

• The article explicitly mentions the “carbon footprint per passenger” as a “crucial metric for understanding how much CO₂ is emitted per traveler.” It states that countries like Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay have seen reductions in this metric, while Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil saw an increase, making it a direct indicator of progress.

Implied Indicators for Target 12.b and 13.2: Factors for Route Efficiency

• The article implies several operational indicators that contribute to the main metric. These include:
  • Fleet renewal: Using newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft.
  • Optimized load factor: Ensuring flights are as full as possible to reduce per-person emissions.
  • Use of larger aircraft: Increasing capacity to improve efficiency on high-demand routes.
  • Efficiency of long-haul routes: The article notes that these routes “are becoming more efficient,” which serves as a performance indicator.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: travelandtourworld.com