Carbon offsetting and mitigation by Qld tourism enterprises

About the project

This project provides the first systematic evaluation and critical review of carbon offsetting and mitigation measures implemented by a range of Queensland tourism enterprises. This research examines how Queensland tourism enterprises are utilising carbon offsetting schemes, the motives of tourism operators for offsetting emissions and their role in business sustainability.

Tourism is the third largest export industry in Queensland and a priority sector in ClimateSmart Adaptation 2007-12. Assisting the industry to deal with climate change is:

• the Queensland Tourism Strategy: A 10-year vision for sustainable tourism (2006-2016)
• the Queensland Tourism Industry Council report, Climate change: A brief guide for tourism (QTIC, 2008)
• the Great Barrier Reef Tourism Climate Change Action Strategy 2009-2012 (GBRMPA, 2009). 

Objective and vision

The key objective of the project is:

•  to review carbon offsetting and other mitigation measures implemented by Queensland tourism enterprises in response to climate change and sustainability.

The vision for Tourism Queensland's Sustainable Regions program is:

• for Queensland to be recognised internationally and domestically as a sustainable tourism destination.

Research

The project research gathers data relevant to the Tourism Queensland ‘Tourism Environmental Indicators’ (response to climate change by tourism operators and carbon offsetting). This research will evaluate:

• what carbon mitigation and carbon offset measures have been adopted by different Queensland tourism enterprises and why,
• the influence of eco-certification schemes, government sustainability programs and environmental motives for carbon offset measures by tourism owner-operators, and
• the role of Tourism Queensland and tourism industry associations in promoting environmental sustainability (carbon mitigation) and carbon offsetting by operators.

Project team

This research for this project is being led by:

• Associate Professor Heather Zeppel, and
• Dr Narelle Beaumont

Funding

This research is funded by a ACSBD Building Research Momentum Grant.

Further information

Additional information about this tourism research project is available:

• ACSBD Research Seminar Poster  (PDF*2.7MB)
• Sustainability, Climate Change & Tourism  (PDF*1.1MB) 
• Green Tourism Futures CAUTHE Conference 2011  (PDF*94KB)
• Carbon Offsetting and Mitigation by Queensland Tourism Enterprises  (PDF*4.7MB) 
• Climate Change Governance in Australian Tourism, SCU Research Symposium (PDF*2.55MB)
• Environmental Innovations by Queensland Tourism Operators (PDF*1.9MB)
• Climate Change and Queensland Tourism Resources (PDF*691KB)
• Queensland Tourism Survey Results-Part A: Carbon Mitigation (PDF*3MB)
• Queensland Tourism Survey Results-Part B: Carbon Offsetting (PDF*1.6KB)
• Tourism Survey Results - South Queensland Tourism Industry Conference 2011  (PDF*4.8MB)
• Fact Sheet: Carbon Tax and Tourism (PDF*618KB)
• Fact Sheet: Carbon Emissions Calculators for Tourism Operators (PDF*423KB)

*This file is in Portable Document Format (PDF) which requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader. A free copy of Acrobat Reader may be obtained from Adobe. Users who are unable to access information in PDF should contact ACSBD to obtain this information in an alternative format.