New plan to aid Queensland in managing climate change

Griffith University has taken up a key role in moulding the future Queensland Tourism by helping in the development of a new Climate Change Adaptation Plan. The plan aims for short and medium term time frames (2030), as well as heading for long-term goals to meet the state’s zero-net emissions target by 2050. As per reports, the climate change related risks facing the local tourism market are physical impacts like cyclones, flood, rise in sea level etc.

Professor Susanne Becken, Tourism Director of Griffith Institute, served as the main person of the Queensland Tourism Climate Change Response Plan, which emphasizes on 20 years of research into climate change and tourism. The plan conceived by Queensland Tourism Industry has also partnered Department of Environment and Science in the initiative. The main task will be to examine the prospects and challenges that lie ahead for operators, travellers and other tourism stakeholders in steering the changing world around us. This will also explore the chances to develop tourism’s long-term flexibility by investing in low-carbon technologies and building designs, increased use of renewable energy etc.

“The strategy will be a ‘gold standard’ for tourism destination climate plans in future. This strategy combines the best knowledge locally and globally on how climate change will impact tourism and what the industry can do about it. It also covers the low carbon transition that no doubt will affect tourism but also provides a great opportunity towards better and cleaner products and experiences,” said Susanne Becken.

Tourism Industry is one of the most significant contributors towards Queensland’s GDP. Around more than 2,25,000 Queenslanders are employed in the tourism sector around 54,000 small and medium sized business. The Queensland Tourism Climate Change Response Plan was developed in arrangement with Australia’s global commitment as a participant to the Paris Climate Agreement, as well as its support to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. “The reality is that tourism remains a vital part of the state economy, and it is crucial that industry and government work together to secure Queensland’s future as a destination market of choice among Australian and international travellers,” Professor Becken added.