TOURISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE. Tuesday 22 nd September 2009 Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

Transcription

1 TOURISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE Tuesday 22 nd September 2009 Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

2 M A L D I V E S Going Carbon Neutral Tourism and Climate Change Royal Geographic Society with IGB Tuesday 22 September 2009

3 The Maldives Population: 385,000 (2008 est.) 1,190 islands 197 inhabited Area: 298 sq. km ( > 99% sea) Tourism & Fishery main industries GDP per capita approx. US$ 3000

4 Capital Male Area: 2 sq. km Population: 120,000 Majority of islands have less than 2,000 Industrial and financial hub Protected by seawall Most populated capital in the world

5 Tourism Began in resorts 280 beds 1097 visitors Update resorts 19,860 beds 680,000 visitors 19% GDP 70% foreign exchange Main markets Europe / Asia

6 Critical Issues Average elevation 1.5 m above sea level Flooding reported in many islands Coastal / beach erosion Fresh water shortages Maldives contributes less than 0.001% to GHG emissions IPCC projects sea level rise of up to 0.88m by 2100 Will submerge the Maldives

7 Critical Issues & Innovative Solutions Protecting the shoreline and the beaches can be expensive Waste management a key problem Lack of green energy initiatives (Sonevafushi is green leading by example) New design concepts stand alone bungalows on stilts Eco friendly tourism on demand Investor confidence still high as Maldives remains at the top (but for how long?)

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15 The El Niño of 1997 caused severe coral bleaching

16 Coral bleaching as a result of rising temperatures

17 Frequent flooding cause devastation

18 Floods have become frequent in the Maldives

19 Severe beach erosion in islands

20 Adaptation is costly / requires constant maintenance

21 Seawall around capital Male was a gift from Japan costing 60million US$. It protected the capital from devastation in Tsunami 2004

22 Maldives Climate Change Strategy Capacity development Driving forward international agreements on climate change Technology transfer Funding Mitigation Actions in the Maldives (e.g. carbon neutral) Adaptation Actions in the Maldives (e.g. coastal protection).

23 Maldives Climate Change Strategy Maldives aims to be Carbon Neutral within 10 years (President announced in March 09) On going focus on driving forward international commitments National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) Introducing renewable energy to the Maldives (Wind & Solar) Cooperate with international research organisations (make the Maldives a hub for research in related areas)

24 Summary Climate Change is a real threat to the very existence of the Maldives The Maldives needs international support and calls for global actions to combat Climate Change International agreements and coordinated actions essential in the build up to the Copenhagen Summit in December 2009 The Maldives aims to lead by example (carbon neutral within the next 10 years)

25 Together we can save the world. Thank You! Presented by Mr. Ahmed Moosa Envoy for Science and Technology Government of the Maldives

26 TOURISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE Tuesday 22 nd September 2009 Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

27 Ayubowan!! May you be blessed with long life!!

28 Tourism & Climate Change Sanjika Perera Director UK& Ireland Sri Lanka Tourism

29 Sri Lanka 65,000SQKM in size (size of Ireland) Population of Approx 20 Million Previously known as Thambapanni, Taprobane, Serendib, and more recently Ceylon Nicknamed as the The Pearl of the Indian Ocean 3000 year civilization intertwined with the Indian sub continent,was Agriculture based with trade links to both Orient & the west. Has been under the colonial influence of the Portuguese, Dutch and the British for over 500 years A multi ethnic, multi religious society 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Sinharaja Rain Forest being one)

30 Sri Lanka Climate & Biodiversity Tropical Climate broadly divided in to 2 zones Wet zone (14C 25C) & Dry Zone (27C 32C) with high Humidity and a spectrum of Ecological Zones such as low country dry zone, low country wet zone, central hill zone, Arid Zones Different part of the Island experience 2 different Monsoons. (SW & NE monsoons) Central Hills with cooler climate and source / water basin of all the main rivers in the country. Has over 45% green cover and 30% forest cover Diverse Ecosystems Shrub land, Grass & Savanna, wetlands, riverine forests, Mangroves & tropical rain forests Over 3,300 plants, 80 mammals, 480 birds, 66 amphibian, 180 reptiles, 240 butterflies

31 Climate Change Impact on Sri Lanka Macro Impact Rise in Sea Levels ''A major part of Jaffna and other northern areas (of Sri Lanka) will be submerged when the sea level rises. So people are fighting and dying over areas that may soon not be there,'' Prof. Mohan Munasinghe, vice chairman of the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Change in weather patterns The unpredictable monsoon period & rain fall levels affecting agriculture, tourism etc. Variation in temperature affecting habitats

32 Climate Change Risk Maplecroft Climate Change Risk Report 2009/2010

33 Climate Change Impact on Sri Lanka Micro Impact Deforestation Urbanization & Congestion Environmental Pollution (Air, water & landfill) Access to resources Increase in Costs

34 Recent Developments.. A A strong environment movement Pollution associated with poverty, but a will to change among policy makers Our Tourism industry is dependent on a Nature, Culture, Adventure product base Support from global tourism community Alliance of scientific community and tourism Nobel Peace Prize (ICCC) Vice Chair and Global Ozone Prize 2007

35 Sri Lanka s response Awareness Building Reduction of Carbon Footprint Propagation of Sustainable Practices Carbon Offsetting / Trading Tourism industry lead the way by reducing the carbon foot print of all the hotels Sri Lankan Airlines introduced low carbon emission flights Hotel Ranweli Ecotourism Programme RTP Trees for Life programme with Galle Conservation Society John Keells Hotels Energy Management System Ruk Rakegannao (Guardians of Trees) Plant Nurseries Programme Rain Forest Rescue s Analogue Forestry Programme Various Mini Hydro, Solar / Wind Power & Bio gas generation projects Schools Environmental Brigade / Clean Sri Lanka Campaign Ceylon Chamber of Commerce s support for energy saving initiatives under the Global Compact Programme Several coastal greening projects undertaken by NGOs/INGOs and individuals after the tsunami Rotary Sri Lanka s Green Cover with Ten Million Trees initiative Heritance Kandalama Hotel s Triple Bottom Line Initiative Hotel Sigiriya Carbon Footprint Measurement and Conservation initiative Jetwing Hotels J.E.E.P initiative Apparel Industry s Green Garments Programme; MAS & Brandix / Marks and Spencer Green Factory Initiative Cargills (Super Market Chain) Going Green project

36 Examples of Action. Rotary Green Cover 10 million Trees Programme Rainforest Rescue Initiatives Jetwing Eternal Earth Programme

37 Sri Lanka s response Awareness Building Towards a Carbon Clean Sri Lanka; A Tourism Earth Lung Today a global community

38 Case Study Hotel Sigiriya Evolution of the Process Rapidly rising energy costs Diminishing margins Implementation of energy conservation measures Financial benefits Loss of market share Need to re-position New value proposition Introduction of environment- friendly initiatives Mitigation of carbon emissions Lessons Learned Bottom Bottom line ( ( financial) impact Small incremental changes Does not have to be high tech Appropriate technology Commitment Bottom up/training/awareness Analytical / methodical approach Sometimes costly Before/after scenarios Small victories Spin off PR and goodwill A A marketing tool

39 Case Study of Community / Stakeholder Partnership Trees For Life Hiyare, Sri Lanka

40 What is Trees for Life? Wildlife conservation area of 600 acre rainforest bordering a reservoir. Located 25 minutes from Galle. Owned by Galle Municipality & managed by RTP & the WCS Galle. Partially funded since 2007 by the Travel Foundation & 2007 Tsunami relief onwards Reforestation project incl free plant distribution. Trees for Life Tree planting, education and nature trails. Animal rescue. Carbon recovery. Reservoir boat trips.

41 Hotels involved Jetwing Beach Chaaya Citadel Jetwing Tropical Villas Chaaya Village Blue Oceanic Beach Hotel Jetwing Vil Uyana Neptune Hotel Heritance Kandalama Jetwing Seashells Ramada Resort Riverina Hotel Bentota Beach Hotel Jetwing Ayurveda Pavilion Mermaid Hotel & Club Palm Garden Hotel Saman Villas Browns Beach Hotel Bandarawela Hotel Eden hotel Hotel Club Oceanic Cinnamon Grand Hotel Coral Gardens Hotel Jetwing St. Andrew s Yala Village Hotel Cinnamon Lakeside Jetwing Lighthouse Hotel & Spa The Tea Factory Hotel Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort Jetwing Hunas Falls Heritance Ahungalla Earls Regency

42 Is the emphasis on Climate Change a fad or a fashion or way of life? Is it Niche or mass market? Is the consumer willing to pay a premium? Is it a profitable? Is it Sustainable? Challenges

43 Ayubowan!! May you be blessed with long life!!

44 TOURISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE Tuesday 22 nd September 2009 Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)