Climate Action in Hotels
The United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 was kicked off on 30th November 2023 for full implementation of the Paris Agreement.
It is challenging for the hotel industry to respond to climate risks due to the industry’s fragmented structure that entails complex human capital involvement in both operations and management, along with a commitment to transparency across diverse stakeholder groups.
“Climate action is understood as the efforts to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen adaptive capacity to climate induced impacts.”
Some actions are reducing greenhouse gas emissions involve targeted actions across various departments, efficient energy management, optimizing consumption and adopting renewable energy sources to diminish reliance on fossil fuels, eliminating waste and improving water management also significantly impact emissions, the use of construction methods and materials contribute by minimizing the carbon footprint of buildings and sourcing locally are some examples of how collectively hotels can take a holistic approach toward combating climate change.
Climate Action Plan
The influence of climate change on accommodations is becoming increasingly tangible. Thus, hotel teams have the challenge to create effective plans for climate action areas such as energy, water, general waste, food waste, and the supply chain management.
Climate change mitigation and adaptation are two strategies aimed at addressing the effects of climate change, albeit in different ways. Mitigation is meant to reduce global warming and hence the potential climatic hazards, adaptation is a proactive action that hotels take to improve asset's resilience.
Climate Change Mitigation (CCM)
Mitigation refers to actions taken to decrease or prevent the release of greenhouse gases into the air, which helps slow or halt the progression of climate change. In the context of hotels, there are three main strategies to avoid emitting CO2: lowering energy use, enhancing energy efficiency, and adopting renewable energy sources. Measures such as transitioning to renewable energy, providing electric vehicle charging stations, forestation, reforestation to absorb CO2, and using carbon capture and storage technologies can further contribute to reducing emissions. Accommodation sector worldwide currently generates roughly 282 million metric tons of CO2 annually, with each guest night averaging emissions of 14 kilograms of CO2, primarily from energy use (excluding food-related emissions).
Climate Change Adaptation (CCA)
Adaptation involves taking steps to handle the effects of climate change that are either already happening or anticipated in the future. This can mean various actions like constructing sturdy infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme weather, setting up warning systems for natural disasters, implementing water-saving techniques in drought-prone areas, adjusting farming methods to suit new climate patterns, and creating policies for managing coastal areas against rising sea levels.
For hotels, both mitigation (like using energy-efficient systems to cut carbon emissions and costs) and adaptation (ensuring resilience against climate-related risks) matter. Mitigation not only reduces their environmental impact but also saves money through lower energy expenses. Adaptation is vital for safeguarding against disruptions caused by extreme weather, preserving business continuity, and minimizing potential damages.
Always ensure to cover the main types of adaptation: technical, behavioral, research, policy and managerial.
Climate-related events impacting hotels’ bottom line
- Key adaptation measures for climate hazards
Climate change is poised to ramp up the frequency and strength of extreme weather events across various global regions, resulting in more substantial damages and increased losses due to weather-related disasters. There are nine main types of climate hazards—like extreme heat, cold, precipitation, floods, sea level rise, droughts, storms, landslides, and forest fires—that could adversely affect societies, economies, and the environment. Additionally, there could be other risks, such as diseases carried by vectors.
These hazards become significant risks when they threaten something valuable, like people, finances, infrastructure, cultural assets, and heritage sites. The severity of these risks hinges on how susceptible the affected system is and how well it can adapt. For instance, in the face of extreme heat, urban dwellers may face equal exposure, but those residing in poorly insulated buildings would likely be more vulnerable compared to those living in homes designed for climatic conditions.
In some regions, coastal hotels have implemented a comprehensive array of climate change adaptation measures to mitigate the impact of environmental shifts on their operations. Technical measures such as fortifying the hotel structures against extreme weather events. Managerial strategies ensuring guest safety and sustainable operations during weather-related events and awareness-raising measures aim to educate and engage stakeholders—staff, guests, and the wider community—about climate change risks and adaptations, fostering informed actions toward environmental conservation.
Climate Risks & ESG
Damage caused by climate-related incidents in accommodations, such as hotels, can result in substantial financial strain. This strain arises from both direct expenses like repairing buildings and relocating staff, as well as indirect effects like disruptions in economic operations. They can significantly reduce the value of the properties affected. Hotels lacking sustainable features or facing higher exposure to environmental risks tend to be sold below their actual market worth—a phenomenon known as the "Brown discount."
This trend ties hotel valuations increasingly to sustainability aspects and environmental vulnerability. There's a growing consideration of avoiding constructing new hotels in high-risk areas and designing hotels that blend harmoniously with their surroundings.
For instance, in hurricane or tornado-prone areas, simple measures like lower roof pitches, reinforced connections, and communal shelter areas within amenities enhance safety. Similarly, hotels in fire-prone zones opt for non-combustible materials, fire-resistant landscaping, and strategic plantings to ensure both safety and aesthetic alignment with the hotel's design. These measures not only protect the properties but also improve safety for everyone on the property.
European Hotels 🇪🇺
The intersection of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) regulation and CCA
Many regions have started implementing regulations related to climate change and environmental sustainability. Hotels that proactively adopt mitigation and adaptation strategies can stay ahead of compliance requirements, avoiding potential penalties and staying in line with future regulations and improve resilience of assets.
- Climate Change Vulnerability Index for Tourism (CVIT) is a composite index that uses 27 multidisciplinary indicators to quantify how sensitive a country’s tourism sector is to the impacts of climate change. The CVIT is composed of six weighted components which quantify Tourism Assets, Tourism Operating Costs, Tourism Demand, Host Country Deterrents, Tourism Sector Adaptive Capacity and Host Country Adaptive Capacity.
- The new Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI), released by global risks advisory firm Maplecroft, enables organisations to identify areas of risk within their operations, supply chains and investments. It evaluates 42 social, economic and environmental factors to assess national vulnerabilities across three core areas. These include: exposure to climate-related natural disasters and sea-level rise; human sensitivity, in terms of population patterns, development, natural resources, agricultural dependency and conflicts; thirdly, the index assesses future vulnerability by considering the adaptive capacity of a country’s government and infrastructure to combat climate change. maplecroft.com/about/news/ccvi.html
Gössling, S. and Lund-Durlacher, D., 2021. Tourist accommodation, climate change and mitigation: An assessment for Austria. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 34, p.100367.
Nhep, T., Schott, C. and Sahli, M., 2021. Climate change adaptation in Cambodia's coastal hotel sector: An analysis of adaptation measures and hotel characteristics. Tourism Management Perspectives, 40, p.100890.
Mkutano wa Umoja wa Mataifa wa Mabadiliko ya Hali ya Hewa COP28 ulianza Novemba 30, 2023 kwa utekelezaji kamili wa Mkataba wa Paris. Ni changamoto kwa sekta ya hoteli kukabiliana na hatari za hali ya hewa kutokana na muundo wa sekta hiyo uliogawanyika ambao unahusisha ushiriki wa mtaji wa binadamu katika shughuli na usimamizi, pamoja na kujitolea kwa uwazi katika vikundi mbalimbali vya wadau. "Kupunguza uzalishaji wa gesi ya chafu ni ""jitihada za kupima na kupunguza uzalishaji wa gesi ya chafu na kuimarisha uwezo wa kukabiliana na athari za hali ya hewa."" - Mkurugenzi wa Uendeshaji wa Nishati, Mkurugenzi wa Uendeshaji wa Gesi ya Chafu, na Mkurugenzi wa Uendeshaji wa Gesi ya Hali ya Hewa, Mkurugenzi wa Uendeshaji wa Gesi ya Hewa, na Mkurugenzi wa Uendeshaji wa Gesi ya Hewa, ""Utekelezaji wa Njia za Ujenzi na Vifaa.""" Mpango wa Hatua ya Hali ya Hewa Athari ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa kwenye malazi inakuwa dhahiri zaidi. Kwa hivyo, timu za hoteli zina changamoto ya kuunda mipango ya ufanisi kwa maeneo ya hatua za hali ya hewa kama vile nishati, maji, taka ya jumla, taka ya chakula, na usimamizi wa mlolongo wa usambazaji. Kupunguza mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na kukabiliana nayo ni mikakati miwili inayolenga kukabiliana na athari za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa, ingawa kwa njia tofauti. "Kupunguza joto la dunia na hatari za hali ya hewa ni hatua ya ""kuchukua hatua ya kuendesha"" ambayo hoteli huchukua ili kuboresha uwezo wa mali." Kupunguza mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa (CCM) ni hatua zinazochukuliwa ili kupunguza au kuzuia kutolewa kwa gesi za chafu hewani, ambayo husaidia kupunguza au kusimamisha maendeleo ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. Katika mazingira ya hoteli, kuna mikakati mitatu kuu ya kuepuka uzalishaji wa CO2, kupunguza matumizi ya nishati, kuongeza ufanisi wa nishati, na kupitisha vyanzo vya nishati mbadala. Hatua kama vile kuhamia kwa nishati mbadala, kutoa vituo vya kuchaji magari ya umeme, misitu, ukarabati wa misitu ili kunyonya CO2 na kutumia teknolojia za kukamata na kuhifadhi kaboni zinaweza kuchangia zaidi kupunguza uzalishaji. Sekta ya malazi ulimwenguni kote sasa inazalisha takriban tani milioni 282 za CO2 kila mwaka, na kila usiku wa wageni wastani wa uzalishaji wa kilo 14 za CO2, hasa kutoka kwa matumizi ya nishati (bila uzalishaji unaohusiana na chakula). Mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa (CCA) ni hatua ya kukabiliana na athari za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa ambayo tayari yanatokea au yanatarajiwa katika siku zijazo. Hii inaweza kumaanisha hatua mbalimbali kama vile kujenga miundombinu imara inayoweza kuvumilia hali mbaya ya hewa, kuanzisha mifumo ya onyo kwa misiba ya asili, kutekeleza mbinu za kuokoa maji katika maeneo ya ukame, kurekebisha mbinu za kilimo ili kukidhi mifumo mpya ya hali ya hewa, na kuunda sera za kusimamia maeneo ya pwani dhidi ya kuongezeka kwa viwango vya bahari. Kwa hoteli, wote kupunguza (kama kutumia mifumo ya nishati ya ufanisi wa kupunguza uzalishaji wa kaboni na gharama) na marekebisho (kuhakikisha upinzani dhidi ya hatari zinazohusiana na hali ya hewa) ni muhimu. Kupunguza sio tu hupunguza athari zao za mazingira lakini pia huokoa pesa kupitia gharama za chini za nishati. Urekebishaji ni muhimu kwa ajili ya kulinda dhidi ya usumbufu unasababishwa na hali ya hewa kali, kuhifadhi mwendelezo wa biashara, na kupunguza uharibifu wa uwezekano. Daima kuhakikisha kufunika aina kuu ya marekebisho: kiufundi, tabia, utafiti, sera na usimamizi. Matukio yanayohusiana na hali ya hewa yanayoathiri hoteli - Hatua muhimu za kukabiliana na hatari za hali ya hewa Mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yanatarajiwa kuongeza mzunguko na nguvu ya matukio ya hali ya hewa kali katika mikoa mbalimbali ya ulimwengu, na kusababisha uharibifu mkubwa zaidi na hasara zaidi kutokana na majanga yanayohusiana na hali ya hewa. Kuna aina tisa kuu za hatari za hali ya hewa - kama joto kali, baridi, mvua, mafuriko, kuongezeka kwa kiwango cha bahari, ukame, dhoruba, maporomoko ya ardhi, na moto wa misitu - ambayo yanaweza kuathiri vibaya jamii, uchumi, na mazingira. Kwa kuongezea, kunaweza kuwa na hatari nyingine, kama vile magonjwa yanayoambukizwa na vektor. Hatari hizi huwa hatari kubwa wakati zinatishia kitu cha thamani, kama watu, fedha, miundombinu, mali za kitamaduni, na maeneo ya urithi. Ukali wa hatari hizi hutegemea jinsi mfumo unaohusika unavyoweza kuathiriwa na jinsi unavyoweza kukabiliana. Kwa mfano, katika hali ya joto kali, wakazi wa mijini wanaweza kukabiliwa na mfiduo sawa, lakini wale wanaoishi katika majengo yasiyo na insulation nzuri wanaweza kuwa hatarini zaidi ikilinganishwa na wale wanaoishi katika nyumba zilizobuniwa kwa hali ya hali ya hewa. Katika maeneo fulani, hoteli za pwani zimetekeleza hatua mbalimbali za kukabiliana na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa ili kupunguza athari za mabadiliko ya mazingira kwenye shughuli zao. Hatua za kiufundi kama vile kuimarisha miundo ya hoteli dhidi ya matukio ya hali ya hewa kali. Mkakati wa usimamizi wa kuhakikisha usalama wa wageni na shughuli endelevu wakati wa matukio yanayohusiana na hali ya hewa na hatua za kuongeza ufahamu zinalenga kuelimisha na kuhusisha wadau - wafanyakazi, wageni, na jamii pana - kuhusu hatari za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na marekebisho, kukuza hatua za ufahamu kuelekea uhifadhi wa mazingira. Uharibifu wa hali ya hewa na ESG unaosababishwa na matukio yanayohusiana na hali ya hewa katika malazi, kama vile hoteli, inaweza kusababisha shinikizo kubwa la kifedha. Mkazo huu hutokana na gharama za moja kwa moja kama vile kurekebisha majengo na kuhamisha wafanyakazi, pamoja na athari za moja kwa moja kama vile usumbufu katika shughuli za kiuchumi. Wanaweza kupunguza kwa kiasi kikubwa thamani ya mali zilizoathiriwa. Hoteli zisizo na sifa endelevu au zinazokabiliwa na hatari kubwa za mazingira huwa zinauzwa chini ya thamani yao halisi ya soko - jambo linalojulikana kama "punguzo la Brown". Mwelekeo huu unaunganisha thamani ya hoteli zaidi na masuala ya uendelevu na udhaifu wa mazingira. Kuna kuzingatia kuongezeka kwa kuepuka kujenga hoteli mpya katika maeneo ya hatari na kubuni hoteli ambazo huchangamana kwa upatano na mazingira yao. Kwa mfano, katika maeneo yenye uwezekano wa dhoruba au kimbunga, hatua rahisi kama vile paa la chini, viunganishi vilivyoimarishwa, na maeneo ya makazi ya pamoja ndani ya vituo huongeza usalama. Kwa mfano, hoteli katika maeneo yenye hatari ya moto huchagua vifaa visivyoweza kuwaka moto, majengo yenye uwezo wa kuzuia moto, na mimea ya kimkakati ili kuhakikisha usalama na uwiano wa urembo na muundo wa hoteli. Hatua hizo hazilindi tu mali bali pia huongeza usalama wa kila mtu aliye katika mali hiyo. Utaratibu wa Utangazaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji wa Utekelezaji. Hoteli ambazo huchukua mikakati ya kupunguza na kukabiliana na hali ya hewa zinaweza kuendelea mbele ya mahitaji ya kufuata, kuepuka adhabu zinazowezekana na kukaa sawa na kanuni za baadaye na kuboresha uvumilivu wa mali. Kiwango cha Uharibifu wa Hali ya Hewa kwa Utalii (CVIT) ni kiwango cha jumla cha viashiria 27 vya kitaaluma vya utalii, na inahusu jinsi sekta ya utalii ya nchi inayohusika na athari za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. CVIT inajumuisha vipengele sita vya uzito ambavyo huonyesha mali za utalii, gharama za uendeshaji wa utalii, mahitaji ya utalii, vikwazo vya nchi mwenyeji, uwezo wa kubadilika wa sekta ya utalii na uwezo wa kubadilika wa nchi mwenyeji. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika ripoti ya ""Climate Change Vulnerability Index"" iliyochapishwa na kampuni ya ushauri wa hatari ya kimataifa Maplecroft, makampuni ya kimataifa yana uwezo wa kutambua maeneo ya hatari katika shughuli zao, minyororo ya usambazaji na uwekezaji." Kwa mujibu wa ripoti hiyo, watafiti wametathmini mambo 42 ya kijamii, kiuchumi na mazingira ili kuamua hatari za nchi katika maeneo matatu makuu. "Hizi ni pamoja na: ""kufunikwa kwa majanga ya asili yanayohusiana na hali ya hewa na kuongezeka kwa kiwango cha bahari; unyeti wa binadamu, kwa suala la mifumo ya idadi ya watu, maendeleo, rasilimali za asili, utegemezi wa kilimo na migogoro; tatu, faharisi inathamini udhaifu wa baadaye kwa kuzingatia uwezo wa kubadilika wa serikali ya nchi na miundombinu ya kupambana na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa.""" Maplecroft, S. & Lund-Durlacher, D. Malazi ya watalii, mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na kupunguza: Tathmini kwa Austria. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 34 p. 100367 (Jarida la Burudani ya nje na Utalii, 34, p. 100367). Nhep, T., Schott, C. na Sahli, M., 2021. Mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa katika sekta ya hoteli ya pwani ya Cambodia: Uchambuzi wa hatua za marekebisho na sifa za hoteli. Usimamizi wa Utalii Perspectives, 40 p. 100890.