Written by Janie Neumann, Destination Climate Action Expert and Relationship Manager (UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria)

Edited by Jess Henson, Marketing and Communications Manager, GDS-Movement

First published in the 2025 GDS-Index report, Shifting Tides, which you can download in full here.

The global tourism and events sector is entering a decisive moment. Growing climate instability, including extreme weather events and rising costs from climate impacts, is already reshaping how and where people travel. Current climate trajectories still point towards a global temperature rise of more than 3 degrees Celsius, bringing profound socio-economic instability and risks that will make it increasingly difficult for travel to continue in its present form (as highlighted in the work of Stefan Gössling and others).

Tourism is already feeling the effects of a changing climate: the Maui wildfires and recent floods in Spain are not isolated incidents but part of a pattern where hotter temperatures and heavier rains, driven by climate change, are amplifying the damage and uncertainty facing destinations. Its implications go far beyond economics as it is already disrupting communities, threatening livelihoods, and eroding the natural and cultural assets that underpin destination appeal. As a sector that both impacts and depends on these resources, tourism has a clear (if not existential) responsibility to take decisive action and contribute to the global effort.

How quickly and decisively can destinations build resilience, cut emissions, and support the communities and ecosystems on which they depend? The GDS-Index, with its strengthened climate action criteria, helps answer these and other vital questions.

A comparison of year-on-year results, 2024 – 2025, show encouraging signs of momentum*. Across all three areas, the share of destinations taking action increased significantly:

This shift confirms that for most destinations, action is now the norm.

* Analysis is based on destinations participating in both the 2024 and 2025 GDS-Index, allowing like-for-like comparison over two years.

Sector-level climate action: An increasing number of destinations in the 2025 GDS-Index are demonstrating their commitment to climate action, with more than one in five (22%) now signed up to the “Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism“, a significant rise from last year (10%). More destinations are signing up to other international commitments, publishing climate action plans (20% → 39%), and conducting risk studies (20% → 34%). This shows early progress in assessing how climate change will affect tourism. Yet only a third (34%) currently measure the sector’s carbon emissions, an essential step for effective planning and accountability.

Support to supply chains: Destinations are increasingly equipping businesses with tools (73%), incentives (69%), and promotional support (74%). Training is improving, with 71% of destinations now providing it, though further investment is needed to help translate ambition into action.

DMOs leading by example: Organisational action has accelerated. Net zero commitments (64%), climate action plans (54%), and footprint measurement (63%) are now widespread. Communication is the strongest area, with 70% engaging visitors and 74% engaging event organisers. New indicators show that 43% are now publishing annual updates. Training for DMO staff is improving (59%) but still limited, making it harder to fully embed climate action across the organisation.

Adaptation: The Missing Piece

While mitigation efforts are gaining pace, adaptation remains a weak spot. Only one-third of destinations 
have assessed the risks of climate change to tourism 
and events. Risk assessment and adaptation planning need to move from the margins to the mainstream of destination strategies for destinations to find 
themselves better prepared for crises to come.

Credible Communication

The GDS-Index results also show a marked improvement in how destinations are communicating climate action. However, communication without verification risks (unintentional) greenwashing. To be credible and compliant, destinations must ensure that storytelling is backed by measurable action that is clear, truthful, and verifiable.

Looking Ahead: From Ambition 
to Capability

The past year’s results demonstrate that climate ambition is becoming increasingly embedded in the global community participating int the GDS-Index. This is a remarkable shift in a short time. The next frontier is about building the capabilities – skills, systems, and resources – that can turn plans into outcomes.

Capacity-building, staff and supply chain training, and systematic measurement are still the weakest links. These must become priorities and destinations must make climate mitigation and adaptation a core/integral part of destination management if they are to avoid the growing costs and disruptions highlighted by Gössling and others.

This post goes well with:

• Destinatination Climate Change – how did we get here? What can we do?
• Climate Action in Tourism and Meetings, circa 2021 (not as long ago as it feels!)
• The European State of the Climate Report, 2023
• Air travel and climate change with a National Tourism Organisation(NTO) lens, mid-2024
• Get a Climate Action Guide for Destinations