Tourism contributes significantly to global gross domestic product, and is forecast to grow at an annual 4%, thus outpacing many other economic sectors, however, global carbon emissions related to tourism are currently not well quantified.

This report quantify tourism-related global carbon flows between 160 countries, and their carbon footprints under origin and destina-tion accounting perspectives.

We find that, between 2009 and 2013, tourism’s global carbon footprint has increased from 3.9 to 4.5 GtCO2e, four times more than previously estimated, accounting for about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Transport, shopping and food are significant contributors. The majority of this footprint is exerted by and in high-income coun-tries. The rapid increase in tourism demand is effectively outstripping the decarbonization of tourism-related technology.

We project that, due to its high carbon intensity and continuing growth, tourism will constitute a growing part of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

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