A practical industry guide to reducing carbon emissions and adapting to climate change impacts
The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET) have produced a useful guide for tourism operators wanting to reduce their environmental impact. The climate change guide - mitigation and adaptation measures for Australian tourism operators (PDF 1.46MB) provides industry with easy to read guidance on strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change impacts such as increases in temperature and decreases in rainfall.
The guide is broken up into five steps and is very user-friendly:
Step 1: getting started (1.87MB)
Step 2: evaluating your business (596KB)
Step 3: reducing your emissions
Step 4: adapting your business (2.86MB)
Step 5: educating and monitoring (1.17MB)
It is also recommended that you do your own research and find out as much information as possible before making any business decisions.
Getting started
No matter what the business type there are a variety of ways the tourism industry can adopt greener practices. Businesses needs can vary from one firm to another and there is no simple checklist that will suit everyone. Apart from the very useful climate change guide (PDF 1.46MB) featured above, additional resources and information can be accessed through the other pages on this site.
Carbon footprint pilot study of WA businesses
One of the first steps a tourism business can take in getting serious about the impact of climate change is to fully understand the carbon footprint of your business.
In 2009 Tourism WA, with the assistance of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and Carbon Neutral Ltd undertook a study of four typical tourism businesses to measure their carbon footprint. A summary of the report (PDF 175KB) together with an appendix provides some practical actions on how your business might reduce its carbon emissions.
Accreditation
Tourism accreditation is an important business development tool designed to establish and continually enhance industry standards.
Accreditation provides consumers and the industry with an assurance that a tourism operator is committed to quality business practices and professionalism. The accreditation tick advises consumers that the business is committed to high quality systems, procedures and standards.
Tourism Western Australia encourages operators to become members of the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program WA (ATAP WA) and other Tourism Accreditation Australia Ltd (TAAL) approved programs.
Further information on tourism accreditation options including specialty areas such as climate change can be accessed through Tourism WA's growing your business program.