The Kyoto Protocol establishes the first legally binding international emissions targets for industrialised countries. This was adopted at COP3 and marked a major first step towards international action on climate change.

The UK becomes the first country to introduce legally binding national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as part of the Climate Change Act.

Travellers begin looking for greener choices. Research showed growing interest in greener travel, with the proportion of environmentally conscious travellers researching and booking greener accommodation increasing by 7% in a single year.

The travel & tourism industry’s economy grows by 4.3% annually, while its climate footprint grows by just 2.4%.

Commercial aviation nearly halves its fuel use per 100 tonne-km compared with 1990.

Global tourism establishes a baseline for measuring its environmental footprint, with WTTC estimating the sector’s emissions at 8.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

55% of travel businesses report having a sustainability strategy, with 50% saying they have engaged with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

81% of global travellers want to stay in sustainable accommodation, up from 62% in 2016.

Sector emissions are 12% below 2019 levels, while its economic contribution recovers to within 4% of the 2019 peak.

60% of UK travellers feel better about staying somewhere with sustainability certification or a label.

More than half of 250 leading travel and tourism businesses have climate targets.

Emissions intensity is 15% below 2019 levels, despite the sector’s economic footprint being 6% larger.

53 countries use internationally agreed tools to measure tourism’s economic and environmental impacts, up from 30 in the previous reporting cycle.

53% of travellers consider tourism’s impact on communities and the environment, while 73% want their spending to benefit local communities.