Four hundred young men and women, representing 72 countries, discussed issues related to achieving climate change goals and carbon neutrality, and promoting sustainable travel and tourism, during the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week (MENACW) 2023 in Riyadh.
Their participation was sponsored by the Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC), as the first members of the Youth Champions initiative, which was launched by the center with the aim of forming a community of 100,000 people from 100 countries by 2030.
Participants attended sessions on sustainability and the means to confront climate change challenges, as well as the opportunities available in the tourism sector.
Tourism sustainability
In light of the STGC’s partnership with universities and international institutions around the world, young people will have unprecedented access to cutting-edge research and case studies, support for advocacy campaigns, and training programs pertaining to sustainable tourism.
In this context, Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khatib said: “By providing young leaders with the necessary resources to support the tourism sector’s transition to climate neutrality, we are enabling them to play an effective role in building a more sustainable tourism and travel sector.”
“The Global Center for Sustainable Tourism, which is based in Saudi Arabia, is not only an investment in the country’s future, but rather an investment in the future of the entire planet,” he added.
Confronting the climate crisis
Gloria Guevara, President of the STGC, said that the travel and tourism sector “must undergo a comprehensive transformation in order to confront the climate crisis.”
She added that the Center firmly believes that the young generation plays an extremely important role in leading this shift.
“Their visions are essential to presenting new ideas, diverse opinions, and ambitious goals,” Guevara stated.
“The center aims to truly engage these future leaders to help build more sustainable and inclusive prospects for tourism and travel. Through this initiative, participants will gain the knowledge, tools and support necessary to use research in advocacy and awareness-building efforts,” she underlined.
Guevara stressed that the Global Center aspires to welcome around 100 concerned universities and international institutions from all over the world by 2030, pointing to ongoing cooperation with high-level academic institutions in the United States, China, France, Spain and the Netherlands to push the STGC’s vision forward.
