Much has been said and written about sustainable tourism. And yet there is still a lot of work to be done. Because beyond the very demonstrable effects, tourism also has a lot of hidden impact. Ever heard of scope 4 emissions?
Greenhouse gas emissions are broken down into 4 different scopes.
Scope 1
Direct CO2 emissions caused by the organization’s own emission sources.
These are emissions from our own building-, transport- and production-related activities.
This includes fuel consumption within the organization (gas, coal, oil, wood, etc.) but also coolants / refrigerants used in air conditioners and cooling systems.
Scope 2
This includes indirect emissions of CO2. These are emissions that arise from the generation of electricity, heat, cooling or steam in installations that do not belong to the own company, but are used by it. Examples include: electricity and heat networks.
Scope 3
These are emissions that occur as a result of the organization’s activities but are from sources that are neither owned nor managed by the organization. These are then emissions over which the organization has no direct control.
Examples:
- transportation or production that has been outsourced
- (business) aircraft traffic
- business travel and commuting
- production or consumption of raw materials / semi-finished / finished goods
Scope 4
Scope 4 refers to emission reductions that occur outside the life cycle or value chain of a product, but as a result of the use of that product or service. Examples of products (both goods and services) where emissions are avoided include low-temperature detergents, fuel-efficient tires, energy-efficient ball bearings and teleconferencing services. Other terms used to describe Scope 4 include “avoided emissions,” “climate positive” and “net positive accounting.”
However, it is important to note that Scope 4 has not yet been defined in detail. It seems somewhat strange to consider only emission reductions. In some cases, a product or service may actually lead to more emissions. Take for example television programs from our public broadcaster VRT, such as “Down The Road.” One of the previous seasons of this program was about a trip to Canada. The sponsor (Connections) created a corresponding product called “Down The Road Special,” which was eagerly purchased. In other words, the VRT program encouraged people to travel to Canada, which resulted in significant increased emissions.
Optimizing emissions in Scope 1, 2 and 3 during the production of the television program is likely to generate far less than the additional emissions indirectly caused by those trips.
Now imagine if the program had instead experienced an adventurous train trip to a European country. Then train travel would be promoted and there would indeed be a positive effect on reducing emissions.
What about in the tourism sector ?
As mentioned in our previous article, the impact of transportation is the biggest, much more so than staying in a BB, hotel, vacation home …
Therefore, with the Green-Key certificate, very little has been achieved.
Imagine a European green-key certified vacation rental that focuses on North American customers and compare that to an uncertified B&B in the middle of a small village that focuses on slow travel. Scope 1, 2 and 3 are most likely better in the first case. But if we add scope 4, the B&B is many times more ecological.
In other words, Scope 4 is very important in the tourism industry. Everything we offer or promote has a greater or lesser, a more positive or a more negative impact on the environment, neighborhood and heritage.
As a lodging manager, this is very important. For destination management probably even more important.
Some examples: What has the largest scope 4 impact ?
– A lodging that promotes rides on classic Vespas, or one that promotes electric scooters ?
– A lodging that focuses on fast tourism or one that focuses on slow tourism ?
– A city that promotes cruises or one that promotes overnight tourism ?
Scope 4 in Tourism: Hidden Impact
As mentioned earlier, transportation has the biggest impact on the environment, much more so than staying in accommodations such as BBs, hotels or vacation homes. While Green Key certification represents some progress, much remains to be done.
Let’s compare two scenarios: a Green Key-certified vacation rental that caters to North American customers and a non-certified B&B in a small village dedicated to slow travel. At first glance, Scope 1, 2 and 3 (direct and indirect emissions) seem more favorable to the vacation rental. But if we add Scope 4, the picture becomes different. The B&B turns out to be more ecological even without certification.
Why is Scope 4 so important in the tourism industry?
Every aspect of what we offer or promote has an impact on the environment, the local community and heritage. As a lodging operator, understanding this impact is crucial. For destination management, it is even more important. Let’s look at some examples:
1. Vespas versus Electric Scooters:
– A lodging that promotes rides on classic Vespas is likely to generate more emissions than a lodging that recommends electric scooters. Choosing more sustainable modes of transportation has a direct impact on Scope 4.
2. Fast Tourism versus Slow Tourism:
– An accommodation that focuses on fast tourism (fast travel, many locations in a short time) may have more negative impacts than one that promotes slow tourism (leisurely travel, in-depth experiences). Consider the CO2 emissions of frequent flights versus slower train travel.
3. Cruises versus Overnight Tourism:
– A city promoting cruises may have a significant Scope 4 impact because of the large ships and associated emissions. In contrast, a city promoting overnight tourism may have a more positive impact on the environment and the local economy.
In short, Scope 4 is an essential aspect to consider when promoting sustainable tourism.
There are some great examples that are indeed making a positive impact:
1. Friends on Bikes is a lodging network focused on bicycle vacations and thus slow travel.
2. The Welcome to my garden network also has such a rule:
Welcome To My Garden respects the environment and is intended only for slow travelers. As a result, you can reach the camping spots only on foot, by bike or by public transportation.It is forbidden to get there by car. You may drive to the beginning of your hiking or biking trail – as long as you do not come to the campgrounds by car.
What are you doing to reduce your scope 4 impact ?
