The Recent Climate Change Report and PATA's Environmental Initiatives
Time to Choose by Alisa Singer – www.environmentalgraphiti.org – © 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, all rights reserved.
The artwork was inspired by a graphic from the SPM
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5 ºC presents the impacts of global warming of 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emissions. This was made in response to the Decision of the 21st Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to adopt the Paris Agreement and strengthen the global response to climate change, including its threats on sustainable development and efforts to alleviate poverty.
The Status Quo
The global mean surface temperature (GMST) observed from 2006 to 2015 was between 0.75ºC and 0.99ºC, and the anthropogenic global warming is currently estimated to be increasing at a rate of 0.2ºC per decade. While the world’s lands are generally experiencing higher levels of warming than its seas, Antartica is experience levels of warming that are two to three times higher than the global annual average. To halt the global warming on a massive timescale, according to the report and aligned with the United Nation’s statement on Sustainable Development Goal, net zero emissions must be reached by 2050.
Impacts and Risks of 1.5ºC - 2ºC Global Warming
Detectable differences exist in the climate we experience among the current status, global warming of 1.5ºC and warming of 1.5ºC to 2ºC. At 1.5ºC warming, the land temperature will surpass GMST, the days of extreme heat will see a 3ºC increase, and the days of extreme cold will increase by 4.5ºC (at 2ºC warming, the figures are expected to be +4ºC and +6ºC respectively).
One of the most visible and recognised aftermaths of global warming is the rising sea level. In 80 years (by 2100), the global mean sea level rise is projected to be at 0.26m to 0.77m with 1.5ºC warming; unrepairable ice sheet loss will be triggered at 1.5ºC to 2ºC warming, anticipating to sea level rise for up to thousands of years. Nonetheless, of 100K+ species studied, 6% insects, 8% plants and 4% of vertebrates will lose more than 50% geographic range with 1.5ºC warming (at 18%, 16% and 8% respectively at 2ºC). Despite this, limiting the warming at 1.5ºC will save more than 10 million people from being exposed to related risks, restrain the thawing of permafrost areas in a 50% lower range (1.5 to 2.5 million km²).
Humans will also be impacted on both societal and individual level. For example, continued global warming will lead to reductions in yields of crops, such as rice, wheat and maize, decreasing food security and increasing risk of poverty for some of the world’s populations.
Emission Pathways for Limiting 1.5ºC Global Warming
Capping global warming will require efforts to stay within a total carbon budget, yet the estimated remaining budget is being exhausted by current yearly emissions of 42 ± 3 GtCO². Model pathways targeting to reach a 2050 net-zero goal will involve 35%+ reduction of both methane and black carbon by 2050 relative to 2010 levels. Meanwhile, renewable energies are forecasted to supply 70% to 85% of global electricity with a sharp reduction in use of coal energy to approximately 0%. CO² emission, compared to 2010 levels.
Strengthening Global Actions to Eliminate Poverty
Climate change impacts and responses corresponds with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) #1 (No Poverty), #10 (Reduced Inequalities) and #13 (Climate Action). If participated by stakeholders of multilevel and supported by national government, adaptations to limit warming at 1.5ºC through education, information, and community approaches can hasten and scale up the behaviour changes needed to reach the goal and ensure participation, transparency, capacity building and learning among different players. International cooperation, in both financial and technology aspects, is also an essential player in empowering developing economies and vulnerable regions in how they implement actions toward achieve the 1.5ºC warming goal.
What PATA is Doing to Help
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), as an advocate in sustainable development of the travel and tourism industry, has been working on multiple projects and initiatives to ensure the Net-Zero Emission goal could be achieved.
Net Zero Methodology
PATA is part of an industry-wide initiative to develop a net-zero methodology for the hotel sector, aiming to serve as the base reference that can be adopted by all stakeholders in the value chain when addressing net-zero emission in the complete journey of building accommodations to guests staying in the hotels. Partnered with World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Tourism Declares and Greenview, the methodology will be published as a part of Tourism Declares’ Blueprint for Climate Action in Accommodation at the COP26 event in Scotland in November 2021. This is on track to receive endorsement from Race to Zero, the UN’s global campaign for net-zero.
Supporting One Planet & Future of Tourism Coalition
As a signatory of the Future of Travel Coalition, PATA participated in the development of and promoted UNWTO’s Survey on Climate Actions.
TourLink Project
The TourLink project, funded by the European SWITCH-Asia Program, aims to support the Thai travel sector to move toward a more inclusive sustainable growth to reduce poverty in Thailand, develop a green economy and support consumer awareness on sustainable production and consumption. In partnership with European Centre for Ecological and Agricultural Tourism (ECEAT), Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA), Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), Thai Hotels Association (THA) and Sasin, PATA has been promoting carbon neutral travel options that will drive Thailand to become a leading sustainable tourism destination.
