As background...my “big picture take on COP”. It’s not about tourism but it will affect our sector massively over the next 4 decades just like it will with every human activity. If it’s successful in “Sealing a Deal” (as I believe it will be) this will create a new baseline and start a new process of global carbon rationing/reduction; new energy increase; technology /finance support for developing counties etc that will change every human activity and lead us into a new Green Economy (if you want to read more on that check out the article here under Basic Stuff - green economy) or the recent interview on Travel Mole TV.)

Our 5% of the global carbon footprint and particularly aviation’s 2% (and its other ghg impacts) are under challenge here from NGO’s & various industry groups and advocates are around defending the sector. This is important stuff but it’s sideshow, inside the for and against travel silos or for the hundreds of paparazzi and TV...the real game is in the UNFCCC negotiations themselves

I’m playing the same game I guess ... so let me declare my interest here -

• The UN driven process is immensely complex and has been incredible successful in getting the global community from Bali to Copenhagen and to blend macro with micro while the economy has been in shock mode.

• Tourism can and will reduce our footprint over time, like other sectors and aviation will play its part.  But we must be clear, reducing aviation does not just mean less tourism it means less jobs and less economic growth – particularly for small poor states (you can’t bicycle to the Maldives or take a train to the Caribbean). So we have to find solutions as IATA’s Giovanni Bisignani keeps underscoring. And our 5% of carbon has to be viewed against cities producing 70+%,   and deforestation accounting for 20%

• We have to start now and face a world of heightening consumer interest in green travel: heightening government interest in green taxes and incentives (very much in that order) and heightening industry interest in a growing global green market.

• We need to keep our eye on the real issues for our sector - like aviation’s necessary inclusion in the Deal; our sectors leadership contribution to development: prospects for green tourism jobs and access to green funds for travel infrastructure /climate adaptation......: and not get sidetracked by the big debates on climate statistics: on geopolitical tradeoffs between developed, emerging and developing; or even on what funds will be put up when, by the rich for the poor. 

So far the only other comment that I would make at this stage from the outside looking in, is the fact  that it is as important for our future as the various stakeholders from across the government, industry and civil society spectrum are telling us ... and that there is an underlying spirit of optimism at the centre of the spectrum where I feel most comfortable...so judge future musings from that perspective.

Tomorrow is a big day for me - the launch of a new initiative called “Live the Deal” to help the sector adopt the Copenhagen outcomes and adapt for them.......shamelessly capitalizing on the successful “Seal the Deal” campaign that united such a broad scale constituency leading up to the Summit.............incubated in UNWTO with the support of its new Secretary General Taleb Rifai it’s designed to be a standalone initiative that any travel company and community can use for its carbon reduction targets and actions aligned to government programs. Many thanks also to John Koldowski at PATA for your instant support.

GHL Copenhagen 13 December