Tourism and Climate Change from edX

Tourism and climate change, inextricably connectedFrom global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions to ecosystem change and loss of biodiversity, from excessive precipitation to extreme droughts; the effects of climate change have become apparent around the world. Eventhough such disasters are devastating for tourism, the industry’s contribution to climate change remains formidable. And if it continues to grow as it does today, the United Nations expect tourism to be solely responsible for consuming the global yearly carbon budget by 2070, all by itself!

In turn, climate change is already affecting tourism destinations. For instance, numerous small islands and coral reefs are under threat of devastating storms and sea level rise. At the same time, we can see other parts of the world gradually turning into deserts, caused by incessant droughts as well as excessive water consumption by tourism.

Climate change adaptation and mitigation for tourism destinationsUNWTO: “The future resilience of tourism will depend on the sector’s ability to embrace a low carbon pathway and cut emissions by 50% by 2030”. In light of this, we have dedicated this online course to the key challenges tourism faces in context of drastic climate change. You will engage with fellow learners in (re-)modelling various case studies related to adaptation and mitigation. Through this exercise you'll gain a well-founded understanding of how to best engage with future tourism issues within your organisational situation. You will also learn about your own carbon footprint.

Join the debate to drive tourism's sustainability transitionThe MOOC ends with a range of potential future scenarios. And you will be invited to vote, based on which the teaching staff will further equip the content of this course to best address emergent challenges. Importantly, you will be invited to join the debate platform on sustainable innovations, during and after finalisation of the course. Since there is no doubt that tourism has been greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, any Corona related questions will be discussed throughout our tourism courses.

For whomWhether you work in tourism, are a tourism related business owner or a fervent traveller, join us for this MOOC as we project onto the future what impact tourism will have, if left unaltered. Help drive sustainability in tourism! Subscribe now.

Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism

If you find this MOOC interesting, we recommend you take also a look at our Professional Certificate Programme Tourism in Transition: Exploring a Sustainable Future, designed to take you on an wholistic investigation of the industry and eventually leading to your very own concrete envisioning of what sustainable tourism should look like. It consists of three MOOCs, the first ranked by Class Central among the 10 best online courses in the world, the second nominated for the annual edX® award in 2019:

What's inside

Learning objectives

The relationship- and mutual impacts of- tourism and climate change
Climate change mitigation/adaptation strategies
Future challenges in tourism related to climate change

Apply lessons learned on your own/organisational situation
Reflect upon your own behaviour/calculate travel footprint/model future scenarios
By joining this course you will gain awareness & understanding of:

The relationship- and mutual impacts of- tourism and climate change
Climate change mitigation/adaptation strategies
Future challenges in tourism related to climate change
Apply lessons learned on your own/organisational situation
Reflect upon your own behaviour/calculate travel footprint/model future scenarios
By joining this course you will gain awareness & understanding of:

Syllabus

Module 1: Planetary overview

In module 1 you will become aware of planetary context of tourism and climate change. We address topics such as:

Planetary boundaries

Climate change

The greenhouse effect

Emissions

Tourism emissions

Exercise: Self-positioning in the tourism and climate change debate

Module 2: Tourism impacts

The goal of module 2 is to become aware of impacts of tourism on the climate and climate change. You will learn about:

Emissions, trends and future

Paris Agreement

Mitigation challenges

Adaptation challenges

Exercise: Calculate your travel footprint & interpret/discuss

Module 3: Climate impacts

In the third module of the course you will become aware of

Climate change effects on environment, tourism and society

Potential use of climate services

We will address topics such as:

(in)Direct effects

Mitigation effects

Societal effects

Vulnerabilities of places and people

Climate Services and decision making

Module 4: Connecting Agenda’s

In this module you will understand the linkages between mitigation and adaptation agendas and create awareness of future challenges of tourism.

You will learn about:

Mutual influence mitigation and adaptation strategies

Extreme tourism scenarios

Future course scenarios

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the complex and pressing issue of tourism's impact on climate change, offering strategies for adaptation and mitigation

Taught by experts from Wageningen University & Research, a leading institution in sustainability

Provides a practical approach to addressing climate change in the tourism industry, with real-world examples and case studies

Engages learners in critical thinking and scenario planning to prepare them for future challenges in tourism

Suitable for diverse learners, including tourism professionals, business owners, and travelers

Covers essential concepts in climate change and tourism, providing a strong foundation for further exploration

Reviews summary

Climate and tourism theory

According to students, this theoretical course provided a solid overview of climate change and its impact on the tourism industry. The course was well-received in general, but some students expressed a desire for more hands-on case studies.

Instructors effectively presented course material remotely due to the pandemic.

"Given that this was put together during the pandemic... I thought the instructors did a great job..."

Final exam is the only graded component, could add more graded assignments.

"For grading there was only final exam, it was a bit stressful since you'd have to pay again if you failed the first time."

Course focused on theoretical concepts, could have included more applied content.

"I found the course to be more theoretical in terms of discussing how tourism contributes to climate change and the potential socioeconomic impacts climate change could have on stakeholders in tourism."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Tourism and Climate Change with these activities:

Review online tutorial on planetary boundaries

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This will help you understand the concept of planetary boundaries, which is essential for understanding the relationship between tourism and climate change.

Browse courses on Planetary Boundaries

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Find a reputable online tutorial on planetary boundaries.
Watch the tutorial and take notes on the key concepts.
Summarize the key concepts in your own words.

Practice calculating your carbon footprint

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This will help you understand how tourism activities contribute to climate change.

Browse courses on Carbon Footprint

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Find a carbon footprint calculator online.
Calculate your carbon footprint.
Identify ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

Attend a conference on climate change and tourism

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This will help you connect with other professionals in the field and learn about the latest research on climate change and tourism.

Browse courses on Tourism Industry

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Find a conference on climate change and tourism.
Register for the conference.
Attend the conference and participate in the discussions.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Review the book 'Sustainable Tourism: Principles and Practice'

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This book will help you understand the key principles and practices of sustainable tourism.

View Tourism and Climate Change on Amazon

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Read the book.
Summarize the key principles of sustainable tourism.
Identify the key practices of sustainable tourism.

Create a blog post about the impacts of tourism on climate change

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This will help you understand the impact of tourism on climate change and to communicate it to others.

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Research the impacts of tourism on climate change.
Write a blog post that summarizes your research.
Share your blog post with others.

Discuss the challenges of climate change adaptation in tourism

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This will help you understand the challenges of climate change adaptation in tourism and to develop strategies to address these challenges.

Browse courses on Climate Change Adaptation

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Join a peer group.
Discuss the challenges of climate change adaptation in tourism.
Develop strategies to address these challenges.

Contribute to the development of a climate change adaptation strategy for a tourism destination

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This will help you understand the process of developing a climate change adaptation strategy and to contribute to the development of a strategy for a specific tourism destination.

Browse courses on Climate Change Adaptation

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Find a tourism destination that is developing a climate change adaptation strategy.
Join the team developing the strategy.
Contribute to the development of the strategy.

Volunteer for a climate change adaptation project in a tourism destination

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This will help you gain practical experience in climate change adaptation and to contribute to the development of a more sustainable tourism industry.

Browse courses on Climate Change Adaptation

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Find a climate change adaptation project in a tourism destination.
Contact the project organizers.
Volunteer for the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Tourism and Climate Change will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sustainable Tourism Consultant

A Sustainable Tourism Consultant helps tourism businesses to develop and implement sustainable tourism practices. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the relationship between tourism and climate change, as well as strategies for mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. This knowledge can be applied to help tourism businesses reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainable tourism.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainable Tourism Consultant

Climate Change Analyst

A Climate Change Analyst researches and analyzes climate change data to develop and implement climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the science of climate change and its impacts on the environment and society. This knowledge can be applied to develop and implement effective climate change strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Change Analyst

Climate Scientist

A Climate Scientist researches and analyzes climate data to understand the causes and impacts of climate change. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the science of climate change and its impacts on the environment and society. This knowledge can be applied to conduct research and analyze climate data to contribute to our understanding of climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Scientist

Urban Planner

An Urban Planner develops and implements plans for the development and use of land in urban areas. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the science of climate change and its impacts on urban areas. This knowledge can be applied to develop and implement urban plans that promote sustainable development and reduce the vulnerability of urban areas to climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Sustainability Manager

A Sustainability Manager develops and implements environmental policies and programs to promote environmental sustainability and social responsibility within an organization. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the relationship between tourism and climate change, as well as strategies for mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. This knowledge can be applied to develop and implement sustainability programs that reduce the environmental impact of tourism.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

Environmental Policy Analyst

An Environmental Policy Analyst develops and analyzes environmental policies to protect the environment and promote sustainable development. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the science of climate change and its impacts on the environment and society. This knowledge can be applied to develop and analyze environmental policies that effectively address climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Policy Analyst

Soil Scientist

A Soil Scientist studies the soil. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the science of climate change and its impacts on the soil. This knowledge can be applied to study the soil science impacts of climate change and develop strategies to mitigate and adapt to these impacts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Soil Scientist

Geographer

A Geographer studies the Earth's physical and human geography. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the science of climate change and its impacts on the environment and society. This knowledge can be applied to study the geographic impacts of climate change and develop strategies to mitigate and adapt to these impacts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geographer

Meteorologist

A Meteorologist studies the atmosphere and weather. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the science of climate change and its impacts on the atmosphere and weather. This knowledge can be applied to study the meteorological impacts of climate change and develop strategies to mitigate and adapt to these impacts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Meteorologist

Green Building Consultant

A Green Building Consultant helps clients to design and construct sustainable buildings. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the science of climate change and the role of green building in mitigating climate change. This knowledge can be applied to help clients design and construct buildings that are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

See salaries and explore the career path for Green Building Consultant

Environmental Lawyer

An Environmental Lawyer represents clients in environmental litigation and advises clients on environmental law compliance. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the science of climate change and the legal framework for addressing climate change. This knowledge can be applied to represent clients in environmental litigation and advise clients on environmental law compliance in the context of climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Lawyer

Renewable Energy Developer

A Renewable Energy Developer develops and implements renewable energy projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the science of climate change and the role of renewable energy in mitigating climate change. This knowledge can be applied to develop and implement effective renewable energy projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Renewable Energy Developer

Environmental Scientist

An Environmental Scientist conducts research and develops solutions to environmental problems. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the science of climate change and its impacts on the environment. This knowledge can be applied to develop and implement solutions to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Scientist

Oceanographer

An Oceanographer studies the oceans. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the science of climate change and its impacts on the oceans. This knowledge can be applied to study the oceanographic impacts of climate change and develop strategies to mitigate and adapt to these impacts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Oceanographer

Environmental Educator

An Environmental Educator develops and delivers educational programs to promote environmental awareness and stewardship. This course may be useful as it provides an understanding of the science of climate change and its impacts on the environment and society. This knowledge can be applied to develop and deliver effective environmental education programs that raise awareness about climate change and promote action to address it.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Educator

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Tourism and Climate Change.

Organising Responses to Climate Change

Save

Is commonly used as a textbook for tourism courses. It provides a comprehensive overview of the impacts of climate change on tourism destinations and the industry's role in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Organising Responses to Climate Change: The...

Kindle Edition

Tourism and Water

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research on the impacts of climate change on tourism, as well as strategies for adaptation and mitigation.

Tourism and Water (Tourism Essentials, 2)

Paperback

Tourism and Water (Tourism Essentials Book 2)

Kindle Edition

Tourism and Climate Change

Save

Provides a global assessment of climate change impacts on tourism and recreation and the resulting challenges and opportunities for adaptation and mitigation.

Carbon Management in Tourism: Mitigating the...

Paperback

$$$$

Tourism and Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation and...

Kindle Edition

$$$

Tourism, Climate Change and Carbon Management:...

Kindle Edition

Rethinking Tourism and Development

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of the impacts of climate change on tourism, and the adaptation and mitigation strategies that can be used to address these impacts. It valuable resource for anyone interested in the relationship between tourism and climate change.

Rethinking Tourism and Development (Rethinking...

Hardcover

$$$

Tourism, Climate Change and Carbon Management:...

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research on carbon management in the tourism sector, including strategies for reducing emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Tourism, Climate Change and Carbon Management:...

Kindle Edition