COP30 to Feature Tourism Thematic Days: Industry Takes the Lead in Climate Action
Tourism will once again take center stage at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, as COP30 confirms dedicated Tourism Thematic Days scheduled for 19–20 November 2025. Held under the theme “Tourism Climate Action: For a Low-Carbon, Climate-Resilient Future,” the initiative builds on the historic milestone achieved at COP29 in Baku, where tourism was included for the first time in the official Action Agenda.
The Tourism Thematic Days are the result of joint collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism of Brazil and UN Tourism, with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The goal: position tourism not only as a sector highly vulnerable to climate change, but as a strategic driver of climate solutions, innovation, and regeneration.
“Tourism is once again demonstrating that it is not only vulnerable to climate change but also part of the solution,” stated Zurab Pololikashvili, UN Tourism Secretary-General. “The Tourism Thematic Days at COP30 will show how collaboration, innovation, and investment can transform the sector toward a low-carbon and resilient future.”
Throughout the two-day programme, ministers, policymakers, climate specialists, business leaders, NGOs, and academia will gather to explore tourism’s contribution to COP30’s priority areas — ranging from clean energy and biodiversity, to food systems transformation, financing mechanisms, and human development. High-level sessions will take place in both the Blue Zone and the Green Zone, complemented by global online dialogues hosted alongside Travalyst and The Travel Foundation.
Tourism is expected to play a decisive role in building resilient destinations, especially in regions where local livelihoods depend directly on ecosystems, natural landscapes, and cultural heritage. The agenda will spotlight how climate-aligned tourism strategies can generate green jobs, support regenerative economies, and empower local communities to lead the transition to sustainability.
The Tourism Thematic Days continue the legacy of COP29, where the integration of tourism into the climate agenda was jointly facilitated by the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and UN Tourism. That milestone has accelerated momentum for sector-wide collaboration, climate governance, and increased access to financing for climate solutions in tourism.
The COP30 programme reinforces ongoing initiatives, including the implementation of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, and the work of newly established governance bodies such as the Executive Council Interinstitutional Working Group on Tourism and Climate Action and the Global Partnership for Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism.
“Brazil is proud to host this global dialogue and to share our experience in developing a national climate plan for tourism,” said Celso Sabino, Brazil’s Minister of Tourism. “Through collective action, we can ensure that tourism protects nature, empowers communities, and supports the world’s transition to sustainability.”
