The tourism sector has a plan in place to help reduce the emissions that it produces on a day to day basis, which contributes to the negative effects of climate change. The initiative is part of the government’s efforts, working within the National Strategy, to maintain equilibrium within the environment.
The document was headed by the Costa Rica Tourism Institute (ICT) in conjunction with non-government organizations, tourist businesses, and chambers within the sector, seeking to reduce the effects of climate change and encourage sectors to work together in this effort while, at the same time, promoting more competitiveness and minimizing the risks involved in this issue.
According to the Minister of Tourism, Carlos Ricardo Benavides, the plan demonstrates the commitment of the tourist sector to the policy of sustainable development, in ways that ensure respect for the environment and implementation of sound practices. The sector is also committed to implementing mechanisms which will influence other production areas related to tourist services.
Even though the tourists sector only emits 5% of green house gases worldwide, we are making a commitment to the environment in order to reduce the effects of climate change as well as influence actions whose production has a larger effect on this phenomenon. The plan we are putting forth today is based on five key elements: measurement, reduction, susceptibility and adaptation to change, training development, as well as sensitivity and education, said Benavides.
The plan is just part of an overall policy that will allow for the best implementation of the proposed efforts. It not only takes into consideration efforts with businesses within the sector, but also with tourist services providers. The goal is that 100% of companies dedicated to tourist endeavors will implement measurable means to reduce green house gases and their emissions by 2021.
The strategy is divided into two phases. The first is based on working with hotel related businesses and tourist transportation, while the second seeks to integrate tour operators, adventure tourism, theme parks, restaurants and administrative offices within the sector.
Programs aimed to be implemented this year will be geared toward the reduction of energy consumption, recycling water, implementation of water treatment systems, identification of forest areas suitable for reforestation in tourist areas, encouraging the exchange of electronic devices and appliances for those with less consumption or alternative uses, and finally training programs for projects under construction.
There will also be programs monitoring the use of resources as well as the handling of waste, training in various areas of the sector and even getting student communities in tourist areas involved in the topic of climate change, its effects, and ways to implement sound practices.
Each one of these efforts has a different deadline and goal to be gradually integrated into the business sector, beginning in 2008-2009 until 2021. As of today, the document will be handed over to the National Office of Climate Change and appointed to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy with the goal of being incorporated into the governmental National Strategy for Climate Change.
