HOTREC | Energy Efficiency Report

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International consensus on the threats posed by global warming and climate change means that a major
shift towards a sustainable low carbon and resource efficient economy is underway. As pointed-out by the
Intergovernmental Panel onClimateChange (IPCC), global warningmust be limited to a rise in global temperatures
to no more than 2° Celsius compared to pre-industrial era’s temperatures to avoid the most catastrophic climate
change impacts. This will require strong governmental and industry actions to achieve a 50-80% reduction in
global greenhouse gas emissions on average. As a result of this assessment, 195 countries around the world
agreed in Paris in December 2015 to limit global temperature rises to well below 2°C, based on this global
emission reduction target.
The International Paris Climate agreement will inevitably lead to a series
of new public policies and regulations around the world, while all major
industries will need to revisit their business models and practices to adapt
to this new reality. Tourism and hospitality in Europe is not escaping this
phenomenon, as already clear from the recent EU Directives on the energy
efficiency of buildings which makes it mandatory for all new buildings,
including hotels, to be Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) by 2020 , while
even existing buildings may have to retro-fit car parks with electrical charging
stations in the future .
It is currently estimated that tourism accounts for about 5% of global emissions, hotels being responsible for
20% of that share. In the context of an ever expanding world tourism market where international tourist arrivals
will increase by 43 million a year on average between 2010 and 2030 , the hospitality sector clearly faces a strong
challenge to adjust to this reality, as the Paris agreement means that future growth in tourism cannot be met any
longer by a growth in carbon emissions.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND HOSPITALITY:
THE BIG PICTURE
To fulfil its share of the
Paris climate agreement
objectives, the hotel industry
will need to reduce its
greenhouse gas emissions
per room per year by 66% by
2030 and by 90% by 2050.
International Tourist Arrivals
1990-2030 (forecast)
Global greenhouse gas emission
projections by 2100
*Source: UNWTO *Source: Climate Action Tracker
The Paris agreement aims at limiting
global temperature rises well below 2°C.
Warming
projected
by 2100
Baseline
4.1-4.8°C
2°C consistent
1.5-1.7°C
1.5°C consitent
1.3-41.5°C
Current policies
3.1-3.7°C
Pledge
2.6-3.2°C
1990
■ 1990 ■ 2000 ■ 2010 ■ 2030 (forcasts)
-50
0
50
100
150
200 2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
20002010202020302040205020602070208020902100
Global greenhouse gas emission GtCO2e/year
International tourists arrival (unit millions)
8 | Making tourism more resource efficient: guidance and solutions to raise energy efficiency in the european hospitality industry