Launching 50 Climate Friendly Travel Chapters in LDC (Least Developed Countries)
A Pivotal Shift
- Launch of our 50 Chapters in the world's least developing countries will take place in Valletta, Malta on 27th September - World Tourism Day. The launch will be led by Malta’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Clayton Bartolo, together with Malta Tourism’s CEO Carlo Micallef.
- This is a global tourism first, with so much focus being placed on climate resilience for those countries who need the most support. Not only because they are the poorest and least prepared but also because they did the least to create the GHG pollution that is the cause of today’s climate crisis.
Why are these new LDC Chapters so important?
- First because they will be hubs for permanent, thoughtful activism in their countries. Not simply an event like a well-choreographed Climate Week, or a onetime initiative designed to maximise PR and media attention (albeit there is a place for these to respond to the code red crisis). Rather a day-in, day out creative response engaging local stakeholders and motivating governance transformation now rather than kicking the can down the 2050 Net Zero road.
- Second because they will reach out to like-minded young activists, like our Chapter Leaders (all 2nd-year students in the SUNx Malta Climate Friendly Travel Diploma, with ITS, Malta’s Institute of Tourism Studies). In a few months, we will build a global community of thousands of Strong Climate Champions, committed to local Climate Adaptation and emission reduction for the tourism sector, in countries that are not usually the leaders in this field.
- Third because they will engage local industry – particularly the small and medium sized players in the Climate Friendly Travel ecosystem. And they will focus attention on only the most critical components of the transformation – preparedness for the dramatic weather impacts – fires, floods & drought; as well as the need to peak emissions by 2025 for climate friendly travel growth. Repeat growth, where it can be done without adding carbon emissions.
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About SUNx Malta - Strong Universal Network
SUNx Malta is a legacy for the late Maurice Strong, father of sustainable development. Its goal is to advance Climate Friendly Travel (CFT) ~ low carbon: SDG linked: Paris 1.5.
SUNx has a core partnership with Malta’s Ministry of Tourism & Consumer Protection and Malta Tourism Authority to advance CFT, to create a UNFCCC-linked CFT Registry, and to promote CFT Education. It plans to put in place 100,000 Strong Climate Champions by 2030 across all UN states.