EU travel and tourism GDP has grown on average by 2.1 per cent per year whilst its greenhouse gas emissions increased by just 0.3 per cent, according to new data about the footprint of tourism in the European Union. The information has been published by the World Travel & Tourism Council, WTTC, and the Saudi-based Sustainable Tourism Global Center – between 2010 and 2019, the sector decoupled its economic growth from its greenhouse gas emissions.

The new data reveals that the sector’s emissions intensity is decreasing: in 2010, for every $1USD of its GDP, the industry emitted 0.49kg of greenhouse gas while in 2019 this figure dropped by 14 per cent to 0.42kg. This could be seen as evidence of successful changes implemented by governments and businesses in the EU to create a more sustainable sector. In 2019, before the pandemic hit the industry, tourism and travel were responsible for 12.7 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU compared to 8.1 per cent globally.

“The Travel & Tourism industry in the EU has decoupled its economic growth from its greenhouse gas emissions and reduced its emissions intensity,” said Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO. “But we know there is still more to do. The sector has a starting point now to know precisely where it stands in terms of total greenhouse gas emissions produced in the EU.

“More extensive and bolder steps to enable the industry to continue to decouple its growth from its emissions are necessary, like the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels and renewable energy from national grids, amongst others.”