The tourism sector already has a proposal to assist in mitigating emissions that contribute aggravating the effects of climate change. The initiative is part of the government's actions within the National Strategy plan carried out through 'Peace with Nature'.
The document which was led by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) in conjunction with non governmental organizations, business chambers and the tourism sector, seeks to contribute in mitigating the effects of climate change that have an impact on various sectors that are intertwined with activity and fostering greater competitiveness which minimize the risk by this phenomenon.
Although tourism on a global scale emits only 5% of the total greenhouse gas effect in the world, today we make a commitment for the environment, in order to help mitigate the effects of climate change, but also in the hope of influencing with other activities whose production has greater weight in this phenomenon. The proposal we are exposing is based in five different measures such as metrics, mitigation, and vulnerability, adaptation to change, building capacity, awareness and education, said Benavides.
The work is part of a definition baseline that will enable to better implement the proposed actions; it considers not only the work with companies in the sector, but also with suppliers of tourism services. The goal is that by the year 2021 a 100% of the companies involved in tourism activities can implement measures to mitigate the greenhouse gas effect and offset their emissions.
The strategy envisages a two phase work, the first one based on working with hotel companies and tourist transport, while the second will integrate signatures, tour operators, adventure tourism, theme parks, restaurants and administrative offices of companies within the sector.
With regard to programs seeking to be implemented this year are those aimed at promoting the reduction of energy consumption and fuel, water reuse, mechanisms for sewage treatment, identification of forest areas suitable for reforestation, tourist areas, encourage the exchange of electrical devices and appliances for those low-power or alternative uses and studies of projects under construction.
Also monitoring programs in the use of resources such as waste management, training for the sector in various areas and even involving students in the tourist topic of climate change, the impact it partakes and several measures to implement.
Each of these actions must comply with deadlines and targets to move gradually integrating the business sector in periods starting from 2008-2009 until 2021. From now on the document will be handed over to the National Climate Change Office under the Ministry of Environment and Energy for the purpose of which is incorporated into the National Strategy for Climate Change of Government.
