The UK travel industry took a historic first step in October when European parliament approved legislation called the COP21 Climate Action and Energy Transition Law.
Voted through by parliament in the European parliament in Strasbourg, the European Commission now sets the legislative agenda of the legislation. The law is designed to transition Europe towards a low-carbon economy by 2050, in line with the Paris agreement on climate change.
“The travel industry is proud to have been a catalyst in this process and deliver the first of its kind global legislation on the climate change issue in the travel sector,” said Nick Redwood, UK Head of Business Travel. “This is going to be the most important hurdle to cross before our sector embraces its role in creating a low-carbon future.”
Chief executives and travel industry representatives from more than 30 sectors, including retail, leisure, travel, food and drink, transport, construction, aviation, financial services, renewables, waste management, landscaping, shipping, sectors within the aviation industry and others, including air passengers, are signatories to the UK Travel Industry Platform on Climate Change for Business.
“The travel industry is looking ahead to 2050 and ensuring that we have a sector that will work for its sustainable development,” Redwood added. “We think that the international commitment to tackle climate change is vital for those of us planning and delivering the global movement of people.”
The EACP is a sectorial movement of organisations and citizens of the travel industry, campaigning for real and lasting change on a number of climate and environmental matters related to the sector.
“The EACP will continue to promote and implement the long-term strategy that we all agreed at last year’s Paris climate summit as a step towards ambitious climate action,” Redwood said. “We believe that the travel industry has a unique opportunity to become a driving force for the green economy and to act as a catalyst in designing and supporting a low-carbon future for the next 50 years. We are looking forward to taking a leadership role on this issue for many years to come.”