Tourism Decarbonisation, Women Empowerment and Regenerative Tourism
Decarbonisation of the tourism industry is increasingly becoming a common topic of discussion. One pertinent question in the context of women's empowerment is: how can decarbonisation in tourism be achieved with more and better engagement of women? Evidence shows that women tend to be more sustainable consumers, such as in their preference for eco-labeled products and green procurement practices. Additionally, women are generally more willing to improve their energy-related behaviour.
Tourism is notoriously difficult and complex to decarbonise. It involves reducing, avoiding and removing emissions, as well as educating stakeholders. Women’s involvement across various activities and sectors in tourism, including hospitality, farming and agriculture, homestays, arts and crafts etc. represents a largely untapped area for driving decarbonisation efforts in the industry.
Decarbonisation requires investigating different sources of emissions, which may necessitate increased efforts to promote gender equality. Women significantly contribute to tourism through service provision, employment, farming and entrepreneurship. However, they face structural constraints that prevent them from fully developing their potential. These constraints could also be factors that hinder decarbonisation in the industry.
Decarbonisation should explore no- or low-tech methods, making women's participation even more crucial. In many countries, especially developing ones, women in tourism are involved in traditional work linked to heritage and culture. This work, often associated with low technology, is critical to preserving both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
To simplify the decarbonisation process, we must identify opportunities and understand available alternatives, particularly from the informal sector, where women are generally more represented. As climate impacts risk exacerbating existing inequalities and driving societal and economic injustice, empowering women through training and reducing their vulnerability is essential for decarbonising tourism.
In many developing countries, women are still underrepresented in green jobs, yet their involvement is crucial for climate adaptation. Women play a fundamental role in natural resource management and other household and community activities. They are effective in leading local management groups, protecting communities against natural disasters and making decisions that promote sustainability.
According to the UNDP (2023):
More than 20 African countries included gender-responsive actions related to adaptation, while 12 included gender-responsive actions related to mitigation.
A few African countries have also strengthened their policy and institutional frameworks to ensure gender-responsive climate action.
Making decarbonisation a less complicated process could involve engaging women more deeply. Women possess extensive knowledge of food systems, agricultural processes, and often participate directly in these activities. In Guatemala, the Inter-American Development Bank is training female local producers in climate-resilient agricultural practices, livestock management and forestry activities, positively impacting economic development.
Women currently make up 54% of the workforce in Asia’s tourism industry but many hold low-paying positions. It was reported that women do not enjoy many of the economic benefits in Southeast Asia because most are not in sectors positioned for growth. Engaging women more effectively can be a tool for change.
The unique role of women in Southeast Asia strengthens this argument. Historically, they have held prominent roles in indigenous rituals, were essential in agriculture, and dominated local markets. Despite societal changes, women have maintained strong influences in local traditions.
Regenerative tourism, increasingly discussed post-COVID-19, can coexist with decarbonisation. In fact, the two concepts support each other. Decarbonisation focuses on reducing or eliminating fossil fuel use, while regenerative tourism ensures that natural and cultural resources are used sustainably, preventing depletion or extinction.
Decarbonising tourism attractions and destinations remains complex, but regenerative tourism offers stakeholders the opportunity to reduce social and environmental inequalities potentially caused by decarbonisation. For instance, regenerative tourism can drive innovation such as greener farm technologies using cleaner energy sources.
Decarbonising the economy presents a rare opportunity to address environmental equity and justice issues at the core of society. This gives the tourism industry a chance to tackle inequalities, even those not originally caused by tourism. For example, local communities near attractions affected by increased CO2 emissions and resource destruction related to those emissions could benefit significantly from such efforts.
The article is reposted with permission from the Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore, a valued PATA International Member that provides evidence-based research and analysis to governments, policymakers, tourism businesses, nonprofit organisations, and international agencies to increase the positive global impact of responsible tourism. PATA proudly supports discussions around sustainability through the SDGs Matters guest post initiative. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the videos may not necessarily reflect the official policy, position or views of PATA or any of its employees.
