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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Measure Resource efficiency among tourism businesses to avoid negative impacts on marine and terrestrial ecosystems

UN Environnement Programme (UNEP) (
United Nations / Multilateral body
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#OceanAction46147
    Description
    Description

    The UN Environment Programme with support of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety is implementing the project: Transforming Tourism Value Chains (TVC) in developing countries and small island developing states (SIDS) to accelerate more resource efficient, low carbon development. As part of the TVC project, UNEP has developed a Resource Efficiency Data and Performance Monitoring Tool. This tool allows hotels and supporting organisations to: • collect data about resource efficiency • monitor their resource efficiency over time to see where any actions they are taking have effects. • The Resource Efficiency tool also provides information that can be used to produce a baseline for the hotels and MICE sector of the tourism industry in a country. Using this tool, UNEP is engaging with over 100 businesses in the Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia and Mauritius to support them in reducing the greenhouse gases emissions. The commitment will be reported via the RE tool submissions from the private sector and the implementation plan will be shared.

    Partners

    The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the global authority that sets the environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP with support of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety is implementing the project: Transforming Tourism Value Chains in developing countries and small island developing states (SIDS) to accelerate more resource efficient, low carbon development. Activities are focused on countries in which tourism plays an outstanding role for the national economy: • Dominican Republic • Mauritius • Philippines • Saint Lucia The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resource efficiency in three tourism value chains; • food and beverage • accommodation • meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) The project team is working with public and private stakeholders to analyse value chains, prepare policy recommendations, develop action plans that will help reduce emissions in at least 100 value chain businesses and develop a related monitoring system. Please find below the list of project beneficiaries: The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Dominican Republic is responsible for the setting of standards for the conservation, protection, enhancement and restoration of the environment and natural resources. The Department of Tourism of Philippines is the primary planning, programming, coordinating, implementing and regulatory government agency in the development and promotion of tourism industry.  The Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc.  (PCEPSDI) promotes sustainable consumption and production as an approach in achieving a clean, green and healthy environment and to work with government and other interested groups in developing policies and programs relating to the cleaning, improvement, rehabilitation, and development of the environment for sustainable development. The Department of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting of Saint Lucia is the primary planning, programming, coordinating, implementing and regulatory government agency in the development and promotion of tourism industry. The Ministry of Tourism of Mauritius is responsible for development of the legal and operational framework to plan, monitor and regulate tourism activities in line with the defined tourism strategies and policies. The Association of Hotels Owners and Condos Playa Dorada Inc. is a non-governmental, non-profit institution that manages, conserves, maintains and promotes the common areas and services of the Resort Playa Dorada.

    Goal 12

    Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

    Goal 12

    12.1

    Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries

    12.1.1

    Number of countries developing, adopting or implementing policy instruments aimed at supporting the shift to sustainable consumption and production

    12.2

    By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources

    12.2.1

    Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP

    12.2.2

    Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP

    12.3

    By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses

    12.3.1

    (a) Food loss index and (b) food waste index

    12.4

    By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment

    12.4.1
    Number of parties to international multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste, and other chemicals that meet their commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement
    12.4.2

    (a) Hazardous waste generated per capita; and (b) proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment

    12.5

    By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

    12.5.1

    National recycling rate, tons of material recycled

    12.6

    Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle

    12.6.1
    Number of companies publishing sustainability reports

    12.7

    Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities

    12.7.1

    Number of countries implementing sustainable public procurement policies and action plans

    12.8

    By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature

    12.8.1

    Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment

    12.a

    Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production

    12.a.1

    Installed renewable energy-generating capacity in developing and developed countries (in watts per capita)

    12.b

    Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products

    12.b.1

    Implementation of standard accounting tools to monitor the economic and environmental aspects of tourism sustainability

    12.c

    Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities

    12.c.1

    Amount of fossil-fuel subsidies (production and consumption) per unit of GDP

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    Submission of the implementation plans to low emissions and resource efficient tourism sector

    Private sector measurement of GHG emissions and resource efficiency

    Reporting on the Phasing Out Problematic Single-Use Plastics Campaign and its reach

    Reporting on capacity building and trainings organised

    In-kind contribution
    Submission of project case studies highlighting best practices
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Entity
    UN Environnement Programme (UNEP)
    SDGs
    Other beneficiaries

    The ultimate beneficiaries of this commitment are all tourism stakeholders, including tourism destinations, companies, and the public, as their economical and individual wellbeing depends on an intact natural environment.

    Ocean Basins
    Global
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine pollution, Sustainable blue economy, Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology
    Countries
    Dominican Republic
    Dominican Republic
    Mauritius
    Mauritius
    Philippines
    Philippines
    Saint Lucia
    Saint Lucia
    Headquarters
    Nairobi
    Contact Information

    Maelys, Partnerships and Knowledge Management Analyst