Climate Action

What is Climate Action?

Climate Action is about understanding measurements, practices, and actions to minimise climate change. Climate change is simply changes in the Earth’s temperature and weather patterns because of human carbon emissions. It is about striving towards a low carbon and resource-conserving economy by adopting practises that are more efficient or renewable energy solutions.

From rising sea levels to extreme weather events, the climate change crisis is unfolding rapidly, made worse by the rising greenhouse gas emissions. Climate action addresses this problem by understanding and quantifying the sources of emissions and minimising their impact.

Ambitious collective efforts backed by policy, incentives, and investments are crucial in tackling the climate change crisis, and so is individual action. Investing in low-carbon and energy-efficient solutions and encouraging sustainable travel choices are some of the ways you can act now for a climate-resilient future.

Why is Climate Action important?

Climate Action is important for organisations that want to address the influence and impact of climate change on their business.

Research shows that hotels should aim for a 66% reduction in carbon emissions per room by 2030 and a whopping 90% by 2050 just to keep the industry growth from causing a surge in emissions.

Reducing emissions is no longer a ‘nice to have’ – it’s a vital part of any healthy business.

Today’s travellers are becoming increasingly aware of the socio-ecological impact of tourism. They want to travel more responsibly and opt for lodgings that prioritise Climate Action, be it through recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction. Action on climate change has also become more important from a compliance and regulatory perspective.

Read our take on the importance of reducing carbon footprint in hospitality.

What did the latest IPCC Report 2023 teach us?

The latest assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has left no room for doubt that we are way off the mark in reducing emissions. Even if all countries made good on their pledges, it’ll only cut emissions by 7% between 2019 and 2030 – nowhere close to the 43% drop needed to stop the temperatures from increasing by 1.5 degrees by 2040.

Every fraction of an increase in degree will boost the risk of natural disasters, reduce water security, and extinction of local species – hitting the already vulnerable people and ecosystems the hardest.

But it’s not all bad news. The report offers some hope for which, clearly, we need to do a lot better and quickly.

According to the report, reducing emissions alone might not be enough any longer. Limiting the rise of temperature would also need the removal of atmospheric CO2 through reforestation and seaweed cultivation. Other forms of climate action include expanding the use of renewable energy, restoring and creating new woodlands, improving water management, and reducing food waste.

Read our review of the IPCC report.

Climate action that hotels need to know

As a part of the hospitality sector, you have two options: clinging to conventional ways of operating or responding to traveller trends and embracing sustainability. The choice isn’t hard if you think how vulnerable this industry is to the effects of climate change.

Soaring temperatures and a rise in natural disasters have changed the face of several tourist destinations, making travellers rethink their plans or end their vacations early.

Every action on climate change should start by understanding and measuring your current impact. This makes it easy to set clear goals and back them up with targets, strategies, and steps.

Remember to measure and monitor your progress and make changes wherever necessary.

Looking for some inspiration? Here’s what some of the hotels using Weeva are up to in their action on climate change:

• Cempedak, a 17-acre private island resort, found that tracking resource usage and embracing a sustainability culture isn’t just good for the planet but also saves them time and money to grow the business.
• Morukuru Family, a collection of off-the-grid properties, is committed to giving their guests an immersive experience with the smallest possible footprint. From using solar power and borehole water to organising beach clean-ups, every effort aimed at sustainability also proved good for business.

Read what we learned at COP28 – the biggest Climate Change Conference ever.

Set Climate Action goals unique to your hotel and resort

The environmental, social, and economic impact of climate change has affected every corner of the world. Tourism properties that are happy with outdated and unsustainable operations are drawing criticism from environmental watchdogs or losing business. If your hotel is ready to take the leap, here are three focus areas you can immediately start working on.
Conserving energy

If there’s an area where you can make the most impact in reducing carbon emissions and saving money, it’s this one. Start by analysing your bills to identify the biggest energy guzzlers. Observe how staff and guests use appliances and equipment. Don’t forget to compare the impact and cost of your current energy sources by converting them to cost/kWh.

With the reduced cost of installation of solar panels and improved efficiency, solar energy has become one of the most affordable clean energy sources. Factor this into your climate action plan, take steps that can bring you tangible results at the lowest possible cost, and slowly work your way up.

Managing and reducing waste

Hotels produce a lot of waste, so there’s plenty you can do to lower your carbon footprint quickly. Get a clear understanding of waste collection. How much of it goes to landfills or recycling centres? Observe how waste is produced and handled by staff and guests and implement impactful changes. Review the use of packaging and reduce it wherever possible. Redesign the food menu with local, organic ingredients and implement an in-house composting system.

Protecting and restoring biodiversity

Your local flora and fauna are one of the biggest draws for your guests. Any effort to protect and conserve natural ecosystems and biodiversity not only reduces your hotel’s ecological footprint but also makes you stand out as an earth-caring business. Today’s travellers value that.

Planting native trees and flowering species, setting up bird feeders, procuring local farm fresh produce, and supporting local community-led climate action are some of the ways you can help maintain a healthy ecological balance in your surroundings.

Read more about how to reduce carbon emissions in your tourism business.

Climate Action made easy through the 360 Framework

Whether you’re a large hotel chain or a small homestay, Weeva can adapt to your needs and goals. We understand that taking action on climate change is a complex journey that requires managing several interconnected aspects of your operations. But with Weeva’s 360 framework, you’ll always know what your next move should be.

Our holistic approach involves doing better in four key pillars of sustainability: Conservation, Culture, Commerce, and Community. Each pillar has multiple parameters to track and manage to achieve your sustainability goals. Climate Action is a key parameter of Conservation.

Weeva makes Climate Action possible by helping you understand and measure sources of scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Our data tools, carbon footprint calculator, and learning guides equip you and your staff with all the inputs you need to reduce overall energy consumption and switch to clean energy solutions.

As your hotel fortifies its place in the carbon-neutral future, make sure to communicate every win you score in your climate action journey. You’ll be surprised by what it can do to your brand reputation and brand value.