Virginia Fernandez-Trapa is Programme Officer of the Sustainable Development of Tourism Department at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). She is responsible for the implementation of initiatives addressing the global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, such as the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme on sustainable consumption and production, the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative and the Global Roadmap on Food Waste Reduction. Virginia joined UNWTO in 2007, she has a Law Degree from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Masters on Sustainable Development of Tourism and Destination Policy and Strategy Management.
Virginia Fernandez-Trapa
All Sessions by Virginia Fernandez-Trapa
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Day 1 June 8th, 2022
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11:45
A global challenge: climate change will inevitably change tourism
11:45 - 12:45Ms. Virginia Fernández Trapa, Programme Officer Sustainable Development, UNWTO
Mr. Jeremy Smith, Co-Founder, Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency
Mr. Jaume Mata, Head of Sustainable Tourism, Visit Valencia
Mr. Pau Pitarch, Partner Consultant, PAX Consulting
Moderates: Mr. Javier Villayamor, Coordinator, Area for Economic Development, Tourism and Trade, Barcelona Provincial Council
Short presentation: ZeroCO2 MED Project: Mr. Joan Colón, Head of the Sustainability Accounting and Optimization Unit, BETA Tech Center / UVic-UCCThe growing number of natural disasters each year is threatening the natural and cultural heritage on which tourism destinations rely to attract visitors, whereas coastal destinations and other areas of natural beauty may also be particularly vulnerable to climate impacts. The green transition of tourism services and activities is inevitably linked with the implementation of initiatives related to environmental protection and climate neutrality, and the 82% of Europeans are already willing to change their travel habits for more sustainable practices, according to a Eurobarometer survey from October 2021. Global initiatives such as the Glasgow Declaration show how we are at a turning point towards the acceleration of the climate action in tourism.
This panel centres on the need that the tourism industry responds and faces the already visible challenges and impacts that the climate change is bringing, and how can it contribute to accelerate the current scheme and dynamics towards a real climate action.
