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Tourism, Transport and Climate Change: The Carbon Footprint of International Air Traffic on Islands

Author

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  • Pedro Dorta Antequera

    (Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilient Cities Group, University of La Laguna (ULL), 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain)

  • Jaime Díaz Pacheco

    (Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilient Cities Group, University of La Laguna (ULL), 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain)

  • Abel López Díez

    (Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilient Cities Group, University of La Laguna (ULL), 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain)

  • Celia Bethencourt Herrera

    (Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilient Cities Group, University of La Laguna (ULL), 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain)

Abstract

Many small islands base their economy on tourism. This activity, based to a large extent on the movement of millions of people by air transport, depends on the use of fossil fuels and, therefore, generates a large amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this work, these emissions are evaluated by means of various carbon calculators, taking the Canary Islands as an example, which is one of the most highly developed tourist archipelagos in the world. The result is that more than 6.4 million tonnes (Mt) of CO 2 are produced per year exclusively due to the massive transport of tourists over an average distance of more than 3000 km. The relative weight of these emissions is of such magnitude that they are equivalent to more than 50% of the total amount produced by the socioeconomic activity of the archipelago. Although, individually, it is travelers from Russia and Nordic countries who generate the highest carbon footprint due to their greater traveling distance, the British and German tourists account for the greatest weight in the total, with two-thirds of emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Pedro Dorta Antequera & Jaime Díaz Pacheco & Abel López Díez & Celia Bethencourt Herrera, 2021. "Tourism, Transport and Climate Change: The Carbon Footprint of International Air Traffic on Islands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1795-:d:495121
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    References listed on IDEAS

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