Ecotourism and Climate Change - presentation by Wolfgang Strasdas at EuroEco 2010 - European Ecotourism Conference 26.- 30 of September in Pärnu, Estonia

1. European Ecotourism Conference 2010
Pärnu/Estonia, September 28
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas
Sustainable Tourism Management
wolfgang.strasdas@hnee.de
Ecotourism and Climate Change –
How to adapt to a new challenge ?
Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 28 · D-16225 Eberswalde
Prof. Dr. Max Mustermann · HNE Eberswalde (FH) · Modul Wirtschaftskreisläufe · Seite 1

2. Climate Change is not going away …
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 2

3. ... becoming a major problem for
the tourism industry !
40o in the shade ??
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 3

4. Tourism and climate change
1. Tourism is affected by climate change
 Adaptation strategies !
2. Tourism contributes to climate change
 Mitigation strategies !
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 4

5. Tourism‘s contribution
to global warming
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 5

6. Tourism‘s share of GHG emissions
... for sustainable tourism
min. this ! of 5%
is share
... of which 40% due to air traffic
Long-haul trips: >90% of
emissions caused by flight alone
Photo: IIED
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 6

7. Shares of tourism subsystems
Source: Deutsche Bahn
Source: UNWTO/UNEP/WMO 2007
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 7

8. Unfortunately, ecotourism
is no exception …
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 8

9. Ecotourism – The access challenge
 Same planes ...
 Remote destinations ...
 No public transport …
 Multiple-site trips ...
 Motorized on-site activities
(4x4 vehicles, whale watching, helicopter flights ... )
 New Zealand study: Nature-based tourism more energy-
intensive than mainstream beach or city tourism
 Ecotourism cannot be truly sustainable
without solving the transportation problem !
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 9

10. Mitigation strategies
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 10

11. Mitigation strategies
1. Technological (energy efficiency, fuel switch, renewables)
2. Managerial (flight, traffic, hotel, visitor management, etc.)
3. Modal shift (increase share of public/ground transport)
4. Climate-friendly travel behavior, products (length of stay,
nearby destinations, muscle-powered leisure activities)
5. Carbon-offsetting
6. Government regulation (fuel taxes, emissions trading, etc.)
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 11

12. Steps for carbon management
(companies or destinations)
1. Measure (carbon & other GHG emissions)
2. Eliminate/replace (type of product, certain activities)
3. Reduce (energy efficiency: technical or managerial)
4. Substitute (fuels, renewable energies)
5. Offset (remaining emissions)
6. Communicate (to employees, customers, suppliers and
other business partners)
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 12

13. Accommodation:
Climate-neutral hotels
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 13

14. Sustainable Transportation
- The hardcore solution -
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 14

15. Sustainable transportation
(more pragmatically )
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 15

16. “Destination Nature“
(to protected areas in Germany/CH)
• Marketing initiative of
the German Railway
since 2001
• Partners with conser-
vation organisations,
PA agencies, selected
DMOs, local transport
providers, hotels &
tour operators
• Encourages comple-
mentary sustainable
transport at local
level
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 16

17. Climate-related certification of
ecotourism operators
• Combination of adaption and
emission reduction strategies
• Carbon footprint measurement
• Systematic carbon management
• Climate neutrality as ultimate goal
• Excellent criteria for • TourCert applies to outbound
local transport (ecotourism) operators
• GHG emissions per PAX/day
• Promotes public transit
• Internal operations:
to destination
GHG emissions per staff
• Promotes environmentally
• Strict flight criteria
friendly airlines
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 17

18. Tourism being affected
by climate change
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 18

19. High vulnerability due to dependency
on natural resources
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 19

20. Time scales for affected
tourism segments
City &
cultural
tourism -
Heat waves
Coastal
tourism - Sea
level rise
Mountain tourism
(summer) - extreme
weather events,
unstable slopes
Source: Stock 2009
Alpine winter tourism
– Lack of snow
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 20

21. Source: Xola Consulting 2010
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 21

22. Source: Xola Consulting 2010
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 22

23. Heat Related Fatalities and
Wind Chill, 8 August 2003, 13
UTC
Heat Stress
2,000 extreme
high
† 2,000 moderate
7,000
† slight
† comfortable
15,000 slight
moderate
† high
1,000 extreme
†
18,000 Cold Stress
† Mortality: J. Robine, 2007
4,000 Wind Chill.: Deutscher Wetterdienst
†
© 2007 Geo Risks Research, Munich Re
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 23

24. Adventure tourism will be
particularly affected
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 24

25. How climate change affects
tourism …
 Direct impacts (temperatures,
precipitation, extreme weather events ...)
 Indirect physical impacts (scenery,
biodiversity, bodies of water ...)
 Adaptation measures of other sectors
(agriculture, forestry, water management ...)
 Political mitigation measures
(rising costs of energy, transportation …)
 Changed tourism image, travel attitudes
(e.g. preference of nearby destinations)
 Shift of tourism flows (destinations,
seasons)
 Long-term economic, societal risks
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 25

26. 80% of Germans
support the taxation
of kerosene (BMU 2006)
83% believe that
aviation is a major
source of environ-
mental pollution
(BMU 2008)
Wolfgang Strasdas · HNE Eberswalde (FH) · Projekt INKA-BB, Teilprojekt 17 Tourismus · Seite 26

27. Importance of climate protection
among German population
How important is climate
protection to you?
Men
Women
very important rather important
Source: prognos/vzbv 2010
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 27

28. Expectations from tour operators
Source: Adlwarth, ITB 2010
Wolfgang Strasdas · HNE Eberswalde (FH) · Projekt INKA-BB, Teilprojekt 17 Tourismus · Seite 28

29. Segment-specific awareness
High environ-
mental
awareness
Source: INVENT Project (Germany)
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 29

30. Winners and losers by 2030
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 30

31. Adaptation to warmer
summers and water
scarcity in East Germany
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 31

32. State of Brandenburg
Eberswalde
Berlin
32
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 32

33. Water-based tourism in
Brandenburg
 Federal state that is richest in surface
water …
 … in spite of low precipitation
 ca. 3,000 lakes + 33,000 km of
water courses:
 1,600 km suitable for motor boats
 6,500 km2 of water surface suitable
for on-motorised boats
 65 marinas for 3,800 boats
 Domestic (and increasingly int‘l)
destination for water tourists
Source: MBJS 2009
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 33

34. Climate change projections for
Brandenburg by 2055
 Slightly rising temperatures 
 Warmer, drier summers 
 Extended season (spring, autumn) 
 Lousy winters (wetter, no snow) 
 More extreme weather events 
 Decreasing summer precipitation
(up to one third less) 
 Falling water levels, water availability 
 Deteriorating water quality & ecology 
Source: GERSTENGARBE 2003 (LUA 2006)
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 34

35. Vulnerability assessment
Exposure Sensitivity
(magnitude of external
influence) (of the impacted system)
Impact Adaptive
(potential) capacity
(mitigating or enhancing
potential impact)
Vulnerability Actual
Adaptation
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 35

36. Results of vulnerability analysis
for tourism in Brandenburg
 Direct climate change: low exposure (positive potential)
 Bodies of water: rel. high, short-term exposure (risks)
 Shift of tourism flows: fair exposure (positive potential) (due to possible
increase of domestic holidays & European demand)
 Water tourism: highest sensitivity (incl. increased use conflicts) (risks)
 Nature-based tourism: possibly long-term impacts due to expected
biodiversity loss and deteriorating scenery (risks)
 Land-based outdoor activities (cycling, horseback riding):
positive potential
 Day trips increasingly difficult to plan ahead (risks)
 Adaptive capacity of stakeholders currently low (problems & opportunities
partially understood, but: little strategic orientation, lack of resources available
to SMEs, regional DMOs, public entities) (risks)
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 36

37. Adaptation strategies
to be tested within the project
Destination management
 Integrate anticipatory CC adaptation into
regional planning
 Increase resilience of water-based ecosystems
 Develop/market climate-friendly destination
Business management (SMEs)
 Innovation & risk management
 Product diversification
 Climate-friendly/neutral company
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 37

38. Test and disseminate
new boat technologies
 Boat hulls adapted to more shallow waters
& producing less waves
 Solar boats & biodiesel/hybrid engines
 Muscle-powered houseboats
 Bringing together technology developers
and boat operators
 Creating financial incentives
 Create privileged access to sensitive waters
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 38

39. Thank you
for your
attention !
Coaching German
Source: Stock 2009
cows for adaptation to
sea level rise in 21XX
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas · Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development · EuroEco Estonia 2010 Page 39