Tourism is both a major emitter of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and a greedy user of energy of all kinds. In Isle of France, we are aware that long-term predictions on climate change, increased passenger numbers and increased energy needs will strongly impact the regional tourism sector. Finally prepare for the future and anticipate a hard thing scenarios when the requirements Factor 4 seem increasingly illusory, the Regional Tourism Committee (CRT) presented a study to highlight its efforts and choice to find a middle way. The latter exposed Tuesday, July 8 at a Regional Day "Tourism and Climate", aims to provide practical and reasonable solutions to ensure the sustainability and quality of a highly dependent tourism sector, which represents 10% of GDP region and some 500,000 jobs.
Tourism and climate, the infernal couple
Among the many areas heavily dependent on climate, tourism is certainly the most iconic. Who has not watched the weather the day of departure at the weekend, even change his plans at the last moment to adjust its choice to an often fickle sky. However, beyond this simple equation, but not without consequences of any kind, the climate has also become a gateway to wonder about tomorrow's tourism door. For who says tourism, we mean a transport local travel, accommodation, much CO2-intensive activities that require us to rethink our ways of being and acting. On the single issue of carbon for example, when we know that the French produce 9 Teq CO2 each year, we understand how important it is to think about a break with our habits. However, climate scenarios envisage an increase of 6 ° by 2080 the climate in Ile-de-France. In addition, a prospective study of CRT was that the tourist appeal of Green Gables-de-France can double between 2011 and 2050, the number of trips / R will increase from 35 million to 70 million. One can imagine what that means in energetic expenditures, transportation congestion ... When we know that we intimate Factor 4 divide by 4 our greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, they are currently in Ile-de-France (IDF) 17.5 MteqC02 / year, they will be 27 MT if nothing is done by 2050, we understand that the issue is weight, since it involves reducing our emissions by 83% next to foresight. It is urgent to think of solutions!
Appraisal: 17500000 tecCO2 / year of total GHG emissions of 3.6 million revolutions of the earth by car.
Appraisal: 17500000 tecCO2 / year of total GHG emissions of 3.6 million revolutions of the earth by car.
A study to understand and anticipate
Aware of climate and energy challenges and eager to anticipate the future, the CRT Ile-de-France, at the request of the Regional Council and in conjunction with the Regional Plan for Climate and Development Strategy of Tourism and Recreation commissioned a study to develop a tourism strategy adapted to the needs and constraints of a sector heavily dependent on climate. For this, the CRT achieved a carbon footprint of the entire tourism chain, taking full account the transport sector, either to come and go to (attractive tourism) to go toward elsewhere (tourism emissive Parisians') but also local transport, the accommodation, restaurants, tourist attractions and activities, etc. Objective: To act with tourism professionals, draw their attention to GHGs without guilt and then support them in their energy transition.
Edifying observations
First observation edifying. GHG emissions related to tourism in IDF equivalent to 17.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, one third of the annual emissions of Ile-de-France, 3.6 million rounds of the earth by car. Trying to offset these emissions would be up to a forest that absorbs 5 million hectares, a forest that would be between four to five times the size of the IDF. Another observation edifying, these 17.5 million tons CO2 equivalent over 90% should be allocated to the transport sector alone. This is explained in part by the heavy weight of the air in the region (the two largest airports in France) and the fact that we are talking about urban tourism. This is the specificity of this carbon footprint IDF, also with a few facts to consider: the aircraft is used for 22% of trips but accounts for 75% of emissions related to transport A / R of tourists and Parisians. Short and medium haul flights are much less efficient (less full, more consumers CO2). We know that there exists an alternative process. Another interesting information to ponder: report kilometer and passenger, emissions from a long flight and a drive are comparable, it is the distance that plays primarily (180geqCO2 / year).
Tourism and Climate Symposium
The challenges ahead
How to deal with a heavy footprint? What issues? Clearly, the Arian is here pointed as alone represents the vast majority of emissions. Conventional solutions are known: improved engines, always use more biofuels, working on a more efficient driving (driving), pay attention to the loading rate of aircraft, perform better, take more direct routes, speed up implementation of technological breakthroughs, etc. Unfortunately, much remains to be done and the IDF Region seems to have little effect in the face of giants like ADP (Aéroports de Paris). Other lever, travelers, change our habits: travel less far, less often, stay longer on site, favor the train when possible. Again, the long-term forecasts show that it is exactly the opposite trend is emerging. Basically, we know what is good for the planet and for the climate but consistently runs against the grain. However, beyond the air, the other players are not forgotten. Hoteliers, restaurateurs and major recreational amenities account for 10% of emissions and there, if the slogan is simple, "cut, cut, and still reduce energy consumption," and use renewable energy where possible, there is still a long way to go ...
The median path chosen by the Ile de France
Aware that all these findings are likely to impact heavily tourism, the IDF region reflected in an accessible scenario that would act now to reduce the carbon footprint of the sector while improving performance for economic territory. The economic stakes are high and the inevitable anticipation when we know, for example, it will take 32,000 rooms available in 2020 when only 22,000 are today. You can imagine what that means for the energy requirements and other releases ... Not to mention the importance of maintaining and improving especially (latest Tourism Conference !!) the quality of care, supply, etc. . An intermediate scenario has been identified, which involves all stakeholders in the sector, presented in three main areas, all having to cut carbon emissions goal. The first axis is to reduce the arrivals area IDF and encourage travelers to stay longer on site. It would generate by itself a reduction of 4 MteqC02. The second axis tends to accelerate efforts energy performance of air transport (biofuels, fleet renewal, rolling, etc.). The gain would be 3.5 MtCO2e. The third and last area is to change the behavior of Parisians leaving the IDF region (less weekend by plane, stays less often, longer, etc.) and for 2 MtCO2e. All allow an intermediate economy of 15.7 MtCO2e in 2050, and thus balance economic interests and climate ... Finally, local actors will be involved in all these economies, like the Parisian hosts that accompanies CRT and will start working for environmental labeling with EVEA Tourism, like as different actions implemented by the RTA: a resource center, available since 2013, a waste prevention strategy being developed with the Regional Council, personalized support for all industry players. Thus, many are those, like Franck Laval (Solar Hotel), which began to mobilize: "I realized that our actions could be summed up in one word: Reduced! Reduce consumption of water, energy waste. "The hotel invites guests to get involved with a very strong label. Other actors, such as David Rouxel (Good Spot) militate for local tourism: go less far and discover the unknown treasures that lie in the corner of our street, or Christophe Leveque, Director of Fleet Taxis G7 to by strengthening the Green park cab and the introduction of electric vehicles.
And tomorrow?
What to do for the climate, to be less dependent on energy, less pollution? What to do when you know that 25% of total Air France business is energy expenditure? What to do when you see that nationally, energy accounts for 10% of spending and it does not stop growing (nearly 5% per year in recent years)? What to do when this same energy is becoming an essential part of the turnover of numbers of companies, it will gradually eroding the margins of a hotel industry that does not need that. The solutions implemented by the IDF region will be sufficient? Do not we also appeal to the legislature? Can we consider GHG accounting? What about a "Green Taxing" currently being considered to Air France and Aéroports de Paris (ADP)? According to Gerard Feldzer, president of CRT should be encouraged ADP to tax depending on the age of the aircraft and what they consume per passenger, and prohibit the transport of fuel and over-consumption that leads exhausting nature. And what about our behavior? Will we abandon the aircraft for medium-haul? A willfully and systematically offset all of our carbon emissions? Are we ready to go less often? How to motivate people? Carrot or stick? Much remains to be done at all levels. That day, in the Chamber of the Regional Council of Ile-de-France, there also were some itching powder, as Jean-Claude Marcus, (GAIA - Management Improvements and Alternative Engineering), although often valuable, showing that solutions exist, lines of progression, it takes just know see them, will. And to quote ADP and the State could have chosen anaerobic digestion solution for the recovery of organic waste and have preferred the construction of a wood boiler causing the forest clearcuts in Chambery, a deforestation of 40 million tons / year although distressing given that it is precisely the opposite that you want ... to propose also to better recycle the waste heat for hotel, gray water. There is so much to do. And so much to discuss. And the latest initiatives aimed precisely at avoiding CRT guilt to find solutions together. So I want to conclude on a positive note and quote Reka Csepeli responsible Sustainability CRT, citing Antoine Saint-Exupery: "The important thing is not to predict the future, but to make it possible. "
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Site CRT www.visitparisregion.com
Contact CRT devdurable@visitparisregion.com
Contact CRIF: dominique.jarry@iledefrance.fr
