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And on the World Stage… Green is the new Red

It's not all about me, my family and our vacation. The UN World Tourism Organization reports that its members are committed to encouraging the tourism and travel industry to develop a low carbon model.

At their World Business Summit on Climate Change, held in Copenhagen in May, a collaborative study done by the World Economic Forum, UNWTO, the International Civil Aviation Organization, UNEP, and tourism and travel business leaders with Booz & Company put forward proposals for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emission in various sectors such as transport and accommodation.

“The study deals with perhaps the most fundamental planetary issue of our time – how to shift progressively towards a sustainable low carbon lifestyle,” said UNWTO Assistant Secretary General, Geoffrey Lipman. “It confirms that our sector generates 5% of CO2 and that we can and will progressively reduce our impacts in line with evolving global agreements.”

As long as fuel prices remain low enough to encourage drive-to family vacations – and that's the forecast through year's end -- the impact of CO2 generated by drivers will outweigh the savings made in other aspects of the travel industry.

But that’s a problem families will face after their summer vacation.