The carbon footprint of tourism revealed (it’s bigger than we thought)

The carbon footprint of tourism is about four times larger than previously thought, according to a world-first study published today in Nature Climate Change. 

There's a huge carbon cost with flying.

Researchers from the University of Sydney, University of Queensland and National Cheng Kung University – including ourselves – worked together to assess the entire supply chain of tourism. This includes transportation, accommodation, food and beverages, souvenirs, clothing, cosmetics and other goods.

Put together, global tourism produces about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, much more than previous estimates. 

Read the story from The Conversation - “The carbon footprint of tourism revealed (it’s bigger than we thought).”

(Climate Conversations considers the environmental cost of flying, including tourism)