African Travel and Tourism Sector CO2 Emissions Decrease – WTTC

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Saudi-based Sustainable Tourism Global Center released new data – between 2010 and 2019 – detailing the climate footprint of the Travel & Tourism sector in Africa.

The data shows the total contribution to Africa’s GDP grew on average 2.6% annually, whilst greenhouse gas emissions (Co2) increased by just 1.2% during the same period.

The data also demonstrates how the sector’s emissions intensity continues to decrease.

In 2010, for every $1 USD of the region’s Travel & Tourism GDP, the sector emitted 1.45kg of greenhouse gas emissions.

But in 2019, when Travel & Tourism was at its peak, this figure dropped by more than 11% to 1.29kg. This significant decline demonstrates the progress of changes implemented by governments and business leaders across Africa to create a more sustainable sector.

In the same year the sector was responsible for an average of just 6.6% of total greenhouse gas emissions across Africa.

“We need government support in accelerating the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels which will have a significant impact on our footprint, as well as bringing in more renewable energy to our national grids.”

–Julia Simpson, President & CEO, WTTC.