The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in accelerating the global travel and tourism sector’s transition towards more sustainable, circular, and resilient operations.
The three-year partnership, which will run through June 2028, establishes a structured framework for collaboration between the two organizations, combining UNEP’s environmental expertise with WTTC’s extensive network of leading global travel and tourism businesses. The agreement is expected to help tourism stakeholders translate sustainability commitments into practical action while supporting the industry’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint and contribute to global conservation goals.
Driving Practical Environmental Action
Under the MoU, WTTC and UNEP will work together to advance key environmental priorities, including the promotion of circular economy practices, nature conservation, sustainable food systems, plastic pollution reduction, water stewardship, and energy sustainability. The collaboration will also focus on protecting coastal and marine ecosystems while encouraging regenerative and nature-positive tourism models that restore ecosystems and strengthen environmental resilience. Both organizations emphasized that as international tourism continues to recover and expand, it is increasingly important to decouple sector growth from environmental degradation and ensure tourism contributes positively to communities and natural ecosystems.
Opportunities for Tourism Businesses
A key feature of the agreement is the creation of structured opportunities for WTTC member companies to voluntarily participate in UNEP’s flagship environmental programmes. These initiatives will cover critical areas such as reducing plastic pollution, minimizing food waste, improving resource efficiency, and adopting internationally recognized sustainability frameworks. The partnership aims to help businesses move beyond sustainability pledges by implementing measurable environmental improvements across their operations.
Joint Policy and Industry Collaboration
Beyond business engagement, the agreement outlines closer cooperation on policy advocacy and international tourism governance. WTTC and UNEP will jointly support the development of global tourism policies that encourage sustainable growth while creating favorable conditions for wider industry participation in environmental initiatives. The organizations will also collaborate through international conferences, joint events, technical workshops, and knowledge-sharing activities to strengthen engagement between the United Nations system and the private sector.
Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange
The MoU establishes a comprehensive joint work programme supported by clearly defined governance mechanisms, annual strategic meetings, technical working groups, and designated focal points from both organizations. The partnership will also support pilot projects, implementation programmes, technical cooperation, and capacity-building initiatives designed to help tourism businesses adopt global best practices in environmental management. Knowledge exchange and technical guidance from UNEP will assist companies in aligning with international sustainability standards and improving environmental performance.
WTTC Highlights Tourism’s Role in Sustainable Development
WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara described travel and tourism as one of the world’s most powerful drivers of sustainable development. She said the partnership with UNEP brings together global leadership, industry expertise, and practical implementation to help businesses accelerate environmental action, reduce waste, protect biodiversity, and generate long-term benefits for destinations and local communities. According to Guevara, the collaboration will help ensure that future growth in global tourism goes hand in hand with protecting the natural environment that supports travel experiences around the world.
Partnership to Continue Through 2028
The collaboration will remain in effect until June 2028 and will be supported through ongoing strategic dialogue, technical exchanges, joint initiatives, and coordinated implementation efforts. Both WTTC and UNEP believe the partnership will play a significant role in helping the global tourism industry build a more sustainable future by promoting responsible business practices, conserving natural resources, and strengthening the resilience of destinations and communities worldwide.
