The Australian Society of Travel Writers, the peak body for Australian travel media professionals, has joined more than 530 global organisations to sign the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism.  

The Glasgow Declaration invites travel businesses and organisations, responsible for an estimated 8 per cent of global emissions, to support the worldwide commitment to halve emissions by 2030 and reach Net Zero as soon as possible before 2050.  

“The Glasgow Declaration is the first major call to action for the travel industry to address the climate emergency,” says Louise Southerden of the ASTW's Sustainability Committee, which was instrumental in the ASTW becoming a signatory.

“It's also a clear sign that tourism is rapidly changing its thinking from 'If we take climate action we can't keep working in travel' to 'We must take climate action so that we can keep working in travel' and the most effective way to take action right now is by signing the Glasgow Declaration. This also gives us great leverage to promote climate action and sustainable travel to the travelling public,” she said. President of the Australian Society of Travel Writers Caroline Gladstone agreed.

“By becoming a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration, the ASTW is publicly acknowledging our role and responsibility and that of the global travel industry in reducing global carbon emissions. 

“We are grateful to Louise Southerden and the ASTW Sustainability Committee for bringing this important matter to the attention of the Society's 290 members and for managing the process which led to our commitment.

“Best of all, we have the support of our members.  After considering the proposal put forward by our Sustainability Committee,  93 per cent voted in favour of signing the Glasgow Declaration at our Annual General Meeting in December.”

About the Glasgow Declaration: The Glasgow Declaration: A Commitment to a Decade of Tourism Climate Action was launched at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021 and is being led by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in collaboration with the Travel Foundation and within the framework of
the One Planet Network and Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency initiatives. The Declaration brings together the latest research and global expertise to galvanise climate action. 

The One Planet Network is a global community of more than 5000 members engaged in sustainable consumption and production; the Glasgow Declaration is part of its Sustainable Tourism Program and its
home base is the One Planet Network website, run by the UNWTO and the UN Environment Program (UNEP): https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/programmes/sustainable-tourism/glasgow-declaration

About the ASTW: Founded in 1975 and incorporated in 2011, the Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting ethical and honest travel writing and representation. The Society represents Australia's leading travel media and travel industry communicators who retain their membership through a substantiation process. 

The ASTW has just under 300 members who are freelancers and staff writers, travel editors, radio and television broadcasters, digital publishers, guidebook authors, photographers, and public relations (PR), social media and marketing professionals.

Media inquiries: Please contact Heather Jeffery heather@theprteam.com.au +61 426 719219