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Climate Change and Tourism: The carbon footprint of Irish Tourism.
 

Researcher: Anita Conefrey (ATU Sligo)
Supervisor: Dr. James Hanrahan (ATU Sligo).
Additional supervision: Dr John Carty (ATU Galway City) and Dr Conor Mc Tiernan (ATU Killybegs, Donegal).
Mathematical Modeling: Dr Leo Creedon (ATU Sligo).

Climate change is one of the greatest threats facing humankind. The purpose of this report is to provide the first baseline carbon footprint for tourism in the Republic of Ireland - which is based on a consumption-based view and does not include outbound Irish tourists. Thus, providing Ireland's tourism policymakers, planners and stakeholders with an evidence-based approach to develop appropriate tourism decarbonisation policies and strategies. Furthermore, this report will contribute to the ongoing international discussion of the importance of tourism decarbonisation, which is imperative to achieving sustainable tourism development. Climate action must play a leading role in national tourism plans, with tourism decarbonisation being the most critical element to ensure sustainable tourism development. The next stage of this research project is to encourage further collaboration amongst tourism policymakers, planners, stakeholders, and academics to develop a stakeholder-based decarbonisation toolkit for sustainable destination management in the Republic of Ireland.

Funded by: ATU Sligo President Bursary.