The Debate: Is the travel and tourism industry taking responsibility for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions?

Dr Scott Cohen recently took part in a debate, sponsored by BBC World News, at the World Travel Market in London on whether the tourism industry is doing enough to manage its carbon emissions. Dr Cohen explained, “The debate was a constructive one, with the industry and academic sides converging and diverging on a range of points. The debate clearly pointed to the need for more dialogue between academia and industry in helping to shape society’s response to this accelerating problem. The audience was polled in the beginning as to whether they felt the sector was taking enough responsibility for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, and nearly the entire room felt industry was not.  Polling at the end of the debate showed opinions had not changed. The large audience was mainly comprised of young professionals working in the tourism, travel and hospitality sectors, suggesting that the future leaders in these sectors are primed to take increasing responsibility for the industry’s emissions.”