Description/achievement of initiative
This initiative is committed to ongoing research, education, demonstration, and capacity building within the tourism industry to promote sustainable tourism that will:
1. Build on the foundation of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria
2. Build capacity for sustainable social structures
3. Utilize the 12 Blue Community Strategies for research, education and demonstration http://www.bluecommunity.info/topics/view/51cbfc99f702fc2ba812ed8f/
4. Work towards a safe and just space for humanity
5 Work toward just and sustainable economic development
6. Work within the limitation of the 9 Planetary Boundaries.
Implementation methodologies
The initiative is carried out in many ways including:
1. Experiential Learning Opportunities for students and consortium members
2. Capacity building such as the offering of project management for sustainable development
3. Conferences and educational programs
4. Continual data collection, analysis and reporting by faculty and graduate students
5. Sustainable tourism demonstration projects focusing on mitigating the challenges of the 9 Planetary Boundaries
6. Demonstration projects such as a new low cost low tech biodigester that can be utilized in developing countries.
Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
Key Capacity Development initiatives underway include:
1. Sustainable Certification program for hotels and resorts.
2 PM4SD training (Project Management For Sustainable Development)
3. Development of new Sustainable Tourism Metrics that better correlate with the SDGS
4 New block chain software to develop stronger collaboration with the other 17 Sustainable Tourism Observatories around the world
5 Sharing of work at a number of conferences such as UNWTO, GSTC, PM4SD Summer School etc.
Coordination mechanisms/governance structure
The initiative is governed through the WHALE Center, a 501 (c) 3 Not for Profit Organization and the USF Patel College of Global Sustainability
The WHALE Center is a UNTWO Affiliate and has formed a consortium of 30 members to implement this project. See: http://www.bluecommunity.info/topics/view/55a922bd0cf20feb892c987e/
The WHALE Center is governed by a Board of Directors who operate according to its by-laws.
The USF Patel College of Global Sustainability leads the Blue Community UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Observatory and is administered by the Dean of the College who reports to the Provost and President of the University which has its own governing board.
Partner(s)
Blue Community Consortium. Thirty Members See: http://www.bluecommunity.info/topics/view/55a922bd0cf20feb892c987e/
Progress reports
Goal 3
3.5 - Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol
3.d - Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks
Goal 6
6.3 - By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
Goal 7
7.2 - By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
7.3 - By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
Goal 9
9.1 - Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all
Goal 11
11.7 - By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities
11.a - Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning
11.b - By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels
Goal 12
12.2 - By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.7 - Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities
Goal 13
13.1 - Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
13.2 - Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
13.3 - Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
13.b - Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities
* Acknowledging that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international,
intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.
Goal 14
14.1 - By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.2 - By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.3 - Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.4 - By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.6 - By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.a - Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.c - Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want
Goal 15
15.1 - By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
15.a - Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems
Goal 16
16.3 - Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
16.10 - Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements
16.b - Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development
Goal 17
17.14 - Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development
12/2017
