The UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge promotes responsible practices, community resilience and heritage conservation, with the ultimate goal of changing the nature and impact of global tourism.
Five themes to commit to
- Community engagement: An important factor in sustainable tourism is allowing the communities and cultures in which we operate to thrive. As part of this Pledge, we would like you to commit to supporting your local community through actions such as sourcing produce locally and hiring local people.
- Energy conservation: Conserving the energy you use not only helps reduce carbon emissions and preserve natural resources but also reduces costs. Tell us if you are using LED-lighting, efficient climate control systems or sourcing renewable energy as part of your Pledge.
- Water conservation: Billions of people live in water-stressed countries worldwide, and we must do all we can to manage this precious resource. Show what your business is doing by pledging to practices such as installing low-flow toilets and capturing and using rainwater.
- Waste reduction: We are becoming a high-consumption society and waste is a huge problem. Tell us about the waste reduction policies you are implementing, such as recycling or composting your food waste.
- Single-use plastics reduction: Approximately 5 trillion single use plastic bags are thrown away each year, which then end up in our oceans and cause problems for ecosystems. We want you to show your commitment to replacing single-use plastics, such as straws and toiletries, with eco-friendly alternatives.
From Wikipedia
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO;[1] French: Organisation des Nations unies pour l'éducation, la science et la culture) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.[2][3] It has 193 member states and 12 associate members,[4] as well as partners in the non-governmental, intergovernmental and private sector.[5] Headquartered at the World Heritage Centre in Paris, France, UNESCO has 53 regional field offices[6] and 199 national commissions[7] that facilitate its global mandate.
UNESCO was founded in 1945 as the successor to the League of Nations's International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.[8] Its constitution establishes the agency's goals, governing structure, and operating framework.[9] UNESCO's founding mission, which was shaped by the Second World War, is to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights by facilitating collaboration and dialogue among nations.[9] It pursues this objective through five major programme areas: education, natural sciences, social/human sciences, culture and communication/information. UNESCO sponsors projects that improve literacy, provide technical training and education, advance science, protect independent media and press freedom, preserve regional and cultural history, and promote cultural diversity.[10][11][12]
As a focal point for world culture and science, UNESCO's activities have broadened over the years; it assists in the translation and dissemination of world literature, helps establish and secure World Heritage Sites of cultural and natural importance, works to bridge the worldwide digital divide, and creates inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication.[13] UNESCO has launched several initiatives and global movements, such as Education For All, to further advance its core objectives.
UNESCO is governed by the General Conference, composed of member states and associate members, which meets biannually to set the agency's programmes and the budget. It also elects members of the Executive Board, which manages UNESCO's work, and appoints every four years a Director-General, who serves as UNESCO's chief administrator. UNESCO is a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group,[14] a coalition of UN agencies and organisations aimed at fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals.