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Affordable Tourism That Doesn't Cost the Earth The Icarus Foundation is a not-for-profit environmental, policy, research and education organization focused on sustaining a climate friendly tourism industry. We provide practical information, programs and research that encourage and enable hosts and guests to minimize the greenhouse gases generated by tourism activity. The Icarus Foundation envisions a prosperous tourism industry that operates in harmony with the capacity of the earth’s living systems to absorb waste and that is committed to reducing its impact on the production of greenhouse gases that lead to climate change.
The Climate Change Challenge, Implications for the Tourism Industry – our first in a series of discussion papers is available for download here. The Icarus Foundation challenges Canada’s tourism community to get to grips with the issue of climate change and play its part in reducing the carbon footprint associated with tourism. The paper summarizes the causes and effects of global warming asserting that failure to address the multiple risks associated with climate change – be they physical, regulatory, financial, reputational or operational – will undermine Canada’s competitive position. Furthermore, failure to grasp how the indirect effects of climate change (i.e. rising energy costs, changing consumer demand, ecosystem degradation, security issues, regulations etc.) might also impede tourism’s growth and progress. While Canada’s tourism community has been slow to respond to this issue, it is not too late to take a leadership position. Bold vision and multiple actions concurrently executed are needed at all levels – national, provincial, community and enterprise. Icarus recommends seven actions as a start. Comments welcomed – to express your support; contribute ideas or identify concerns, please add your comments to the blog post: http://icarusfoundation.typepad.com/icarusblog/2008/02/comments-on-dis.html Alternatively, join us on Facebook here.
Click here to download the latest Contours Newsletter. Whistler's PIQUE newsmagazine feature article includes The Icarus Foundation. Click here to view the article. Co-founder of The Icarus Foundation is co-facilitating the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s first ever CEO Summit on Climate Change in Bangkok in April – see the PATA web site |
