Last week, Tourism Emissions Project leader Dr Ya-Yen Sun (Associate Professor, University of Queensland – second from the right in the photo above) joined tourism industry leaders on a key panel about tourism at COP29 in Baku.

From the UNWTO summary of the programme:
High-level Roundtable 1: Raising the Climate Ambition of the Tourism Sector – from commitments to implementation (measurement and decarbonization)
In line with the measurement and decarbonization pathways proposed by the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, this session will explore the importance and complexity of measurement and decarbonization strategies in tourism. As the global tourism sector strives to reduce its GHG emissions, key stakeholders will highlight the progress made in implementing effective decarbonization pathways. Academia, policymakers and private sector representatives will showcase methodologies and tools for measuring GHG emissions.
Opening:
- Mr. Kanan Gasimov, Head of Administration, State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
- Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director, UN Tourism
Keynote:
The UN Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism: A harmonized methodology to measure energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for tourism
- Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director, UN Tourism
Progress Update Glasgow Declaration:
Key takeaways from the Implementation Report 2024 of the Glasgow Declaration: Measurement and Decarbonization pathways
- Ms. Virginia Fernández-Trapa, Programme Coordinator, Sustainable Tourism and Resilience, UN Tourism
Panel discussion:
Moderator: Professor Xavier Font, University of Surrey
Ms. Inge Huijbrechts, Chief Sustainability and Security Officer, Radisson
Ms. Liisa Kokkarinen, Head of Sustainable Development, Visit Finland
Ms. Kathrine L. Johansen, Chief Advisor, Centre for Regional and Tourism Research, Denmark
Dr. Ya-Yen Sun, Associate Professor, University of Queensland
Mr. Matt Callaghan, Chief Operating Officer, easyJet holidays
Ms. Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President, Advocacy & Communications, World Travel and Tourism Council
Ms. Sally Davey, CEO, Travalyst