 The tourism sector needs to adopt sustainable consumption and production (SCP) modes, accelerating the shift towards sustainability. It is imperative to identify key points of intervention within the tourism value chain to reduce the use of natural resources and environmental impacts caused by production and consumption. The impact of tourism can be both positive as well as negative. There is, therefore, a need to better monitor, share and disclose all the impacts of tourism. Using tools to monitor sustainable development impacts of tourism, as explicitly mentioned in Target 12.b, is essential to enhance accountability for the proper implementation of tourism policies, projects, operations, etc., which will result in enhanced economic, social and environmental outcomes.
There are six targets within SDG 12 that are deemed to ensure the promotion of sustainable consumption and production patterns. These targets have been selected to base the potential project indicators.Â
TARGET 12.1
IMPLEMENT THE 10-YEAR FRAMEWORK OF PROGRAMMES ON SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION, ALL COUNTRIES TAKING ACTION, WITH DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TAKING THE LEAD, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE DEVELOPMENT AND CAPABILITIES OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
The 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP) is a global commitment made by the 193 United Nations member states to accelerate the shift to sustainable consumption and production in both the developing and developed world. The tourism sector contributes to the implementation of the 10YFP with its One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme.Â
Tourism Policymakers should prioritize mainstreaming SCP into national tourism policies. The tourism sector could directly enhance its contribution to Target 12.1. The One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme aims to accelerate sustainable consumption and production (SCP) in tourism policies and practices to address the challenges of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change. It promotes knowledge sharing and networking opportunities to define collective priorities and identify solutions.Â
Potential indicators in this target are grouped by the following Theme and sub-theme:
Climate action/ Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism
Sustainable consumption and production patterns / Sustainable operations
Sustainable consumption and production patterns / One planet sustainable tourism programme
Sustainable consumption and production patterns / Global Tourism Plastic Initiative
TARGET 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.
Given the high relevance of gastronomy and food to the tourism experience, tourism has the potential to contribute to Target 12.3 by triggering action from tourism stakeholders to address the challenge of food waste. The tourism sector requires substantial amounts of food for its visitors, and food loss is potentially happening. Food waste in the tourism sector is an added burden and stress factor in many destinations and the local infrastructures, especially those in more remote areas, where resources are scarce, and connectivity is a challenge. It is imperative to identify key points of intervention within the tourism food chain and to put in place a sustainable food management strategy in the sector, that will reduce natural resource use and environmental impacts caused by tourism-related production and consumption.
Potential indicators in this target are grouped by the following Theme and sub-theme:
Waste / Â Food Waste
Waste / Waste management
TARGET 12.5
BY 2030, SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE WASTE GENERATION THROUGH PREVENTION, REDUCTION, RECYCLING AND REUSE.
There are many ways that tourism stakeholders can reduce the amount of waste generated by the sector. Among others, these include procuring recycled products, avoiding mass-produced products and using less packaging by sourcing locally produced products. Tourism stakeholders can encourage people to buy local, which will promote the development of the local market and contribute to the source.Â
Notably, the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative unites the tourism sector behind a common vision to address the root causes of plastic pollution. It enables businesses, governments, and other tourism stakeholders to take concerted action, leading by example in the shift towards circularity in the use of plastics.
Potential indicators in this target are grouped by the following Theme and sub-theme:
Waste / Waste management
Sustainable consumption and production patterns / Global Tourism Plastic Initiative
Infrastructure/ Waste infrastructure
Â
TARGET 12.6
ENCOURAGE COMPANIES, ESPECIALLY LARGE AND TRANSNATIONAL COMPANIES, TO ADOPT SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND TO INTEGRATE SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION INTO THEIR REPORTING CYCLE.
The private sectors play a critical role in the shift to sustainable consumption and production patterns. Target 12.6 specifically monitors the practices of private sector entities. Given the key role of the private sector in tourism, there is an opportunity for tourism policy to encourage sustainability reporting by tourism business in order to advance Target 12.6. Tourism businesses engage in strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) by integrating responsible behaviours in their operational practices. However, tourism businesses should steer clear of greenwashing initiatives and only adopt sustainable practices that are truly ethical and responsible. Over the years, the private sector has also adopted Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) management, which directly contributes as core business and supports the achievement of sustainability in the private sector.Â
Potential indicators in this target are grouped by the following Theme and sub-theme:
Tourism value chain / Monitoring and reporting
Tourism value chain / Standards and certification
Tourism value chain / Sustainable procurement
TARGET 12.8
BY 2030, ENSURE THAT PEOPLE EVERYWHERE HAVE THE RELEVANT INFORMATION AND AWARENESS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
Tourism can contribute to Target 12.8 by encouraging awareness and education for sustainable development through tourism practices and activities. Tourism policymakers also have the potential to prioritize the âSCP impact areasâ as part of the criteria of national certifications.140 Visitors and tourism stakeholders need to be well informed on tourism sustainability as consumers and facilitators alike. Providing information on nature conservation or fair trade in business procurement and responsible/ ethical source of souvenirs is critical. Energy consumption and waste by visitors are also considerable. Tourism authorities or Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) are able to provide education for the tourism industry and visitors. Employees in the industry are also required to have the necessary training for themselves and to inform visitors.Â
Potential indicators in this target are grouped by the following Theme and sub-theme:
Education and training / Capacity building
Education and training / Awareness raising
Local community / Local community participation
TARGET 12.b
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT TOOLS TO MONITOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM THAT CREATES JOBS AND PROMOTES LOCAL CULTURE AND PRODUCTS.
Target 12.b explicitly refers to tourism and the respective indicator for measuring this target is the Number of sustainable tourism strategies or policies and implemented action plans with agreed monitoring and evaluation tools. Tourism stakeholders including policymakers would need to give priority to the implementation of Target 12.b, which formally shows the intersection between the tourism sector and Goal 12 of the SDGs. The concentration of visitors or high seasonality can hinder sustainable tourism.Â
By using digital technology, a destination may be able to monitor and trace visitor mobility patterns and use the information for the destinationsâ strategy. Tourism development projects can promote the achievement of this target by tracking progress on the implementation of two standard accounting tools relevant for sustainable tourism: the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA)and the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), which enable the derivation of key indicators on the economic and environmental impact of tourism.
Monitoring Target 12.b provides a motivation to put in place the necessary statistical development in countries towards implementing the broader Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (SF-MST), which additionally focuses on the social dimension of tourism, allowing for a comprehensive picture of tourismâs role in sustainable development. The UN Statistical Commission has recognized the SF-MST as the main tool for monitoring the contribution of tourism to the 2030 Agenda.
Potential indicators in this target are grouped by the following Theme and sub-theme:
Tourism value chain / Monitoring and reporting
TARGET 11.b
BY 2020, SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CITIES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS ADOPTING AND IMPLEMENTING INTEGRATED POLICIES AND PLANS TOWARDS INCLUSION, RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE, RESILIENCE TO DISASTERS, AND DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT, IN LINE WITH THE SENDAI FRAMEWORK FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION 2015â2030, HOLISTIC DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT AT ALL LEVELS.
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 aims to reduce the number of vulnerable groups affected by addressing the protection and mitigation of national and local disasters. Airports, train stations, bus terminals, large museums, etc., need to be resilient because these facilities work as visitorsâ hubs. These facilities may be used for temporary evacuation centres in times of crisis. Tourism can contribute to this target as it is in the interest of tourism stakeholders to reassure tourists. Disaster response for tourism also includes communication to prevent reputational damage. Although this target does not include communication response, a tourism crisis management plan sometimes overlaps the area disaster plan. As both plans involve a wide range of stakeholders, it is preferable to link those two plans for development.Â
Potential indicators in this target are grouped by the following Theme and sub-theme:
Crisis management / Disaster risk reduction
Crisis management / Crisis strategies and plans
