"Live the Deal" has been launched to help Travel & Tourism companies and destinations play their full part in the evolving Copenhagen 2050 climate stabilization plan. Travel and Tourism is widely recognized as a vital sector that strengthens economies, creates jobs, alleviates poverty, boosts trade and builds human understanding. It can and should reduce its carbon emissions (currently 5% of total emissions) in line with the Copenhagen outcomes, increase its use of clean renewable energy and play a key role in the long-term shift to a green economy.
Simply put, any Tourism company or destination in the world can "Live the Deal" by committing to follow the relevant carbon reduction outcomes of the Copenhagen Climate Process.
Performance will be easily recorded, tracked against national Copenhagen Process commitments and supported through greenearth.travel's Website, Annual Report, Think Tank and Global Conference. Support will include a simple to use, on-line carbon emissions measurement tool, especially designed for travel and tourism businesses and destinations. It will also profile champions, good practice and low carbon/renewable energy innovation. The inaugural Conference will be held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE in the last quarter of 2010.
The "Live the Deal" launch, with the Global Observatory, in Copenhagen, and supported by UNWTO, will be accompanied by an online video release of "We can take this Climate Change" written and performed by Platinum Record Star Alston Koch, who will devote the next year to promotion of the campaign with the global travel community.
Its membership target is 20,000 in 2010 from all countries. Proceeds will be placed in a not for profit Foundation and used to promote and advance the goals. The Foundation will publish an annual audited report.
The initiative will be launched during the Copenhagen Summit by "greenearth.travel" a policy think tank for innovation/investment in smart, sustainable travel & tourism mobility and new climate profiles. It is also a new media based platform to:
- Advance sustainable tourism mobility & smart growth in the new green economy.
- Support new climate targets/actions by tracking & reporting sector progress.
- Encourage fair & balanced market, regulatory and financing approaches.
- Identify investment & innovation to reduce carbon impacts & climate profiles.
- Promote policy dialogue and change management in support of the transition.
It's Director, Professor Geoffrey Lipman has held senior positions in UNWTO, WTTC and IATA over the past three decades and has been a leading green tourism advocate since the Rio Earth Summit. Communications Director Nicki Page, Fusions Management Dubai has a solid career in tourism media relations, information and promotion.
A global network of public and private organisations and leaders from the travel and tourism sector: the climate change, development, technology and investment communities: civil society, academics and media, is being assembled to support this initiative. Patrons, Partners and Associates are being drawn from inside and outside the sector.
