During the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN framework Convention on Climate Change held in Copenhagen, December 2009, the World Travel & Tourism Council and the United Nations World Tourism Organization hosted a side event on “Addressing the Challenges of Climate Change: Perspectives from the Travel & Tourism Sector.

During the event steps were presented that had been taken so far in response to the Bali Roadmap and Action Plan. Speakers at the event included Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President and CEO of WTTC and Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of UNWTO. Panelists included Predrag Nenezic, Minister of Tourism and Environment, Montenegro, Mari Snyder, Vice President of Social Responsibility and Community Engagement, Marriott International, Carla Aguirre, Head of Research and Environment, Visit Sweden, and Jonathon Counsell, Head of Environment, British Airways.Given its immense economic and social contribution on a global scale the tourism industry has an important role to play in the UN led framework to implement mitigation and adaptation strategies to fight climate change.