What happens when you stay in a hotel?
You might not think about it too much, but the hotel industry is one of the leading contributors to global carbon emissions, directly and indirectly. And that’s because hotels are using a lot of energy-electricity, natural gas, and oil for heating and cooling. What does that mean for the future of our planet? And more importantly, what can we do to help offset these emissions?
Hotel chains are now working towards becoming carbon neutral. In this blog post, I will tell about carbon peaking, carbon neutrality, their relationship with hotel industry, challenges that the hospitality industry is facing while becoming carbon neutral, and the role of guests in achieving carbon neutrality. So here we go:
What is carbon peaking?
You might have heard about climate change and the Paris Agreement, but you might not have heard about carbon peaking.
Carbon peaking is an important concept to understand in order to grasp the seriousness of the climate crisis.
Carbon peaking is the point where greenhouse gas emissions from human-caused activities reach their peak and then start to decline. In simple words, it is the moment in time when we need to start reducing our emissions so that they don’t keep increasing and cause even more damage.
Scientists are of the view that we need to peak as early as possible by the mid of this century, if we want any chance of keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, which is the goal of the Paris Agreement.
But why do we need to peak?
That’s essential if we’re going to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
We’re already seeing the effects of climate change and global warming, with more intense and frequent wildfires, floods, and droughts. If we don’t take action, the consequences will be even more devastating.
What is carbon neutrality?
Now that we understand carbon peaking, let’s talk about carbon neutrality.
Carbon neutrality is the state of being free from net greenhouse gas emissions. In other words, it means that the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere is equal to the amount of greenhouse gases that are removed.
There are different ways of becoming carbon neutral, but the most common is to offset emissions by reducing or avoiding them and then balancing out the remainder by investing in greenhouse gas reduction projects.
What is the relationship between carbon peaking & carbon neutrality with the hotel industry?
Now that we understand carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, let’s explore their relationship with the hotel and tourism industry.
Although the carbon emissions from the hotel industry are not as huge as for other industries, such as energy or transportation, the hotel industry is unique in that it has a direct and indirect contribution to emissions.
Some figures about the hotel and tourism industry
According to United Nations Climate Change, the carbon emission from the hotel industry directly accounts for 1% of global emissions. On the other hand, the indirect contribution of the hotel industry is much higher, as it includes the emissions from transportation, food, and other services that are related to tourism. Sustainable Travel International has reported that greenhouse emission from the tourism industry accounts for 8% of global carbon emissions.
Direct contribution
The direct CO2 contribution of the hotel industry comes from things like using energy for lighting, heating, and cooling. Similarly, transportation within the hotel, such as airport transfers and between hotels and tourist destinations, also generates emissions.
Then there’s food preparation, both in the kitchens and in restaurants. And finally, there are the products used by hotels that often have a big carbon footprint, like towels, sheets, toiletries, single-use plastics, and PVC hotel key cards. Moreover, these things are creating environmental pollution.
Indirect contribution
The indirect CO2 contribution of the hotel industry is much higher. This is because it includes the emissions from transportation, food, and other services that are related to tourism.
Transportation is the biggest indirect contributor. The emissions from planes, trains, cars, and buses account for about 49% of the total emissions from tourism. This is partly because tourists tend to travel to far-flung places, which require more transportation.
Food is the second biggest indirect contributor, generating about 10% of emissions. This is because the food that’s served in tourist destinations often has to be transported long distances. And finally, other services related to tourism, like shopping and entertainment, generate about 8% of emissions.
So there is a great connection between carbon peaking and carbon neutrality with the hotel industry. Mitigation methods of the hotel industry can have a positive effect on reducing global emissions.
Now that we understand the relationship between carbon peaking and carbon neutrality with the hotel industry, let’s explore how hotels can achieve carbon neutrality.
How can the hotel industry achieve carbon neutral?
There are a few different ways that can help hotels achieve carbon neutral, but the most common is to offset emissions by reducing or avoiding them and then balancing out the remainder by investing in greenhouse gas reduction projects.
Reduce energy consumption
The first way that hotels can achieve carbon neutral is by reducing their energy consumption. This can be done by installing energy-efficient lighting and appliances, using smart technologies to regulate energy use, and making sure that all equipment is properly maintained.
Switch to renewable energy
The second way is to switch to renewable energy. This can include installing solar panels or wind turbines, using green energy providers, or investing in energy-saving practices.
Avoid emissions from transportation
The third way is to avoid emissions from transportation. This can be done by organizing group travel instead of individual travel, using public transportation or shared rides, and promoting walking and cycling.
Reduce food waste
The fourth way is to reduce food waste. Hotels can do this by properly planning menus, training staff to avoid waste, and composting food scraps.
Abandoning the single-use plastics
The fifth way is to abandon single-use plastics. Hotels can do this by getting rid of straws, cups, and cutlery, and investing in biodegradable materials. Similarly, the PVC hotel key cards can be replaced with BioPaper key cards that are not only eco-friendly but also environmentally sustainable.
Each of these methods presents its own set of challenges for hotels, but with careful planning and execution, they can all achieve carbon neutral.
What challenges does the hotel industry face when trying to achieve carbon neutral?
The hotel industry faces a few main challenges when trying to achieve carbon neutral.
- The first challenge is that it can be difficult to accurately measure emissions. This is because there are so many different sources of emissions, and they vary depending on the type of hotel and the location.
- The second challenge is that reducing emissions can be costly. This is especially true for hotels that rely on fossil fuels for energy. Switching to renewable energy can be expensive, and retrofitting a hotel to be more energy-efficient can also be costly.
- The third challenge is that many hotels are not aware of the connection between carbon peaking and carbon neutrality or the steps they need to take to achieve carbon neutral.
Despite these challenges, the hotel industry is slowly starting to make the move towards carbon neutrality. And with more awareness and education, it can only continue to do so.
How can guests help reduce their carbon footprint when staying in a hotel?
Guests are the most important part of a hotel’s carbon footprint. There are many things that guests can do to help reduce their carbon footprint when staying in a hotel.
Prefer eco-friendly hotels
The first is to choose a hotel that is committed to reducing its emissions. There are many hotels that have made the commitment to achieve carbon neutral, so be sure to look for those labels when booking a room.
Travel light
The second is to travel light. This means packing lightly and avoiding bringing any unnecessary items with you.
Track your energy consumption
The third is to be mindful of how much energy you’re using. Turn off the lights when you’re not in the room, unplug electronics when you’re not using them, and take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Eat wisely
The fourth is to eat wisely. Avoid ordering room service and choose dishes that are locally sourced and sustainable.
Abandon single-use plastics
The fifth is to avoid using single-use plastics. Bring your own water bottle and straw, and pack any snacks in reusable containers.
By following these tips, guests can greatly reduce their carbon footprint when staying in a hotel.
What do the future hold for the hotel industry and carbon neutrality?
The hotel industry is slowly starting to move towards carbon neutrality, but there is still a long way to go.
There are many challenges that hotels face when trying to achieve carbon neutral, from accurately measuring emissions to reducing emissions costs. But with careful planning and execution, these challenges can be overcome.
Sustainable Hospitality Alliance is working with 16 leading hotel chains to develop a common framework and methodology for carbon neutrality. This will help make the process of becoming carbon neutral more manageable and less costly for hotels.
In the future, we hope to see even more hotels making the commitment to achieve carbon neutral. We also hope to see guests becoming more aware of their own carbon footprints and taking steps to reduce them.
It’s important to remember that becoming carbon neutral is not a one-time event; it’s an ongoing process. Hotels need to continually monitor their energy consumption, switch to renewable energy, and reduce or avoid emissions from transportation and food.
But most importantly, they need to engage with their guests and encourage them to adopt sustainable practices.
Together, we can all make a difference and help reduce global carbon emissions.