Baku, Azerbaijan-– For the first time in the history of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP), “Climate Action in Tourism” has been included in the official COP Action Agenda under the Presidency of Azerbaijan. This groundbreaking inclusion highlights the sector’s crucial role in supporting global climate goals.
As part of Azerbaijan’s COP29 Presidency, Tourism Day on November 20 will bring together global leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders in Baku for high-level discussions on how tourism can contribute meaningfully to combating climate change.
The Tourism Day agenda will feature key events designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and measurable progress. The First Ministerial Meeting on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism will be a historic gathering showcasing tourism’s potential to combat climate change while setting the foundation for future collaboration and policy innovation while High-Level Roundtables will focus on discussions on raising climate ambition, transitioning from commitments to implementation, and exploring innovative solutions for tourism’s decarbonization and resilience.
The Tourism Day agenda at COP29 aims to establish tourism as a strategic sector for climate action through several significant initiatives like the launch of the Baku Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism. The COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Action in Tourism emphasizes the urgent need for accelerated climate action in the tourism sector and will commit endorsers to promoting sustainable tourism practices by reducing emissions and increasing resilience in the sector.
The program will also feature insightful presentations on key topics such as utilizing data to promote sustainable tourism and analyzing the factors driving tourism-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Additionally, two press briefings will be held during the day: the first will outline the key outcomes of the Ministerial Meeting, while the second will highlight the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) latest updates, including the launch of its updated Net Zero Roadmap.
Azerbaijan’s Leadership in Climate Action
Under the leadership of the State Tourism Agency and in collaboration with UN Tourism and UNEP, Azerbaijan has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to embedding sustainability into the global tourism agenda. The inclusion of tourism in COP29 highlights the country’s role as a pioneer in addressing the intersection of climate change and economic development. Tourism Day at COP29 is poised to create a lasting impact, setting a global benchmark for tourism’s role in addressing climate change.
