Under the theme ‘Tourism and Future Energy: Unlocking Low-Carbon Growth Opportunities,’ industry leaders and policy makers have convened in the Kazakh capital city of Astana to discuss the contribution of the tourism sector to reducing carbon emissions.

The Conference is a joint initiative of Astana EXPO 2017 and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, UNWTO, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Kazakhstan. It is being held within the framework of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 and aims to advance the commitment of the tourism sector to the global climate change agenda.

Discussions focussed on how to implement mitigation and adaptation measures in transport, accommodation and destinations. This is within the scope of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and Goal 13 (Climate Action).

"One of the fastest-growing economic sectors nowadays, tourism represents 10 percent of the world’s GDP, 7 percent of global exports and 1 in every 10 jobs. But with growth comes responsibility as we work towards building a better future for a people and planet of prosperity and peace," said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.

"Tourism is estimated to account for 5 percent of global atmospheric CO2 emissions. We need to move towards a truly green tourism economy where growth is decoupled from environmental or cultural degradation," he added.

"Tourism is a priority for Kazakhstan. It is a driver of socio-economic development and we plan to increase the share of our GDP from 1 percent to 8 percent by 2025," said Askar Mamin, First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, who requested UNWTO’s support to develop a sustainable tourism sector.

The Chairman of the Board of EXPO 2017, Akhmetzhan Yessimov, said, "The Expo is a unique opportunity to introduce Kazakhstan to the world and provide an impetus for the comprehensive development of tourism."

The ways to curb emissions and enhance energy efficiency, as well as the use of renewable energy and sustainable practices were underlined as key factors to ensure the contribution of the tourism sector to the Paris Agreement.