COP26: how the climate crisis could affect tourism, and the Asian destinations most at risk from extreme weather events
- Whether or not cross-border travel is taxed or limited to combat carbon emissions, the tourism industry will have to adapt to the impacts of climate change
- Few parts of the world are in more danger than Asia, home to some of the nations most exposed to climate risk and most likely to suffer extreme weather events
For the human race, the future is uncertain. The stakes couldn’t be higher than at the global conference that will begin in Glasgow, Scotland, on October 31.
At COP26, the survival of humankind as we know it will be on the line as world leaders wrestle with the necessity to keep the planet as cool as possible. Although the climate crisis is already unfolding and will undoubtedly worsen, many experts believe we have the means – the wealth and know-how – to still avoid its worst ravages. All that’s lacking is the political will.
The return of post-pandemic tourism and its associated carbon emissions, when viewed as a contributing factor to the potential extinction of the human race, may be considered a troubling development, but millions of livelihoods are dependent on the industry and it seems unlikely people will be willing to stop travelling for pleasure just yet.
There’s no higher ground for us … it’s just us, it’s just our islands and the sea
As with much else on the planet, though, the tourism industry will increasingly be affected by the climate crisis, both in terms of how weather patterns change and what regulations, taxes or other restrictions governments place on the movement of people across borders to lower their carbon emissions.