Text/Yangcheng Evening News reporter Liu Xingtong
Picture/provided by the interviewee (except signature)
April 22, 2022 is the 53rd World Earth Day. This special festival aims to enhance environmental protection awareness and improve the overall environment of the earth through green and low-carbon life. It is not only the focus of all sectors of society, but also the tourism industry to demonstrate green and sustainable development. The best time to develop actions and ideas.
Many scenic spots and hotels will launch related theme activities on this day to guide the public to pay attention to environmental protection, reduce carbon footprint, and promote green life.
With the help of current technology, starting from the sustainable concept advocated by "World Earth Day", how green and environmentally friendly the traveler's journey can be is also subverting the imagination.
scenic spot
Promote green and low-carbon development, increase popular science education
Danxia Mountain in Guangdong, Yandang Mountain in Zhejiang, Mount Tai in Shandong, Lushan in Jiangxi, Wudalianchi in Heilongjiang, Zhangjiajie in Hunan, Shennongjia in Hubei... just in time for the 53rd Earth Day, 22 geoparks, including the Danxia Mountain Global Geopark, announced a few days ago that they will jointly host the 53rd Earth Day. The 3rd Asia-Pacific Geopark Week and the "Friendly Sister Park Mutual Exhibition and Interaction" event, with the theme of "cherishing the harmonious coexistence of human beings and nature on earth", guides the public to pay attention to climate change and care for the earth's homeland by exerting the function of popularization and education of geoparks.
It is reported that this event has been held for three consecutive sessions. Not only more and more geoparks participate, but millions of people participate every year. It has become a brand popular science event with certain social influence.
During this year's event (April 22 to 28), 22 geoparks will carry out online and offline popular science activities at the same time. In addition to visiting the site in person, tourists can "visit" 22 geoparks at home without leaving home. Geopark, and through popular science lectures, knowledge quizzes and games, etc., to gain knowledge of geological landforms, biological ecology and human science.
In recent years, green and low-carbon life has been increasingly valued by the state and governments at all levels.
The "Opinions on Completely, Accurately and Fully Implementing the New Development Concept and Doing a Good Job in Carbon Neutralization" issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council mentioned that by 2060, the economic system of green, low-carbon and circular development and the clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient The energy system is fully established.
The recent government work report also proposes to continuously improve the ecological environment, promote green and low-carbon development, and orderly promote the work of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, so as to promote the harmonious coexistence of man and nature.
The latest information shows that the ecological environment construction in Guangdong Province has achieved remarkable results.
Up to now, 2,075 kilometers of blue roads have been built, the water quality rate of the coastal waters is 90.2%, 1.92 million mu of afforestation and ecological restoration have been completed, and 693 hectares of mines have been restored to green.
Zhang Min, an assistant researcher at the Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, reminded tourists on the occasion of Earth Day that the natural resources of major national parks are well protected, the species of animals and plants are complex and diverse, and some are rare species distributed in specific environments. Go to these places When traveling, you should be careful not to startle wild animals and birds, including their habitats.
"You can check the information in advance to make a strategy and understand the distribution and habits of the main local species, which will not only make it easier to find animals, but also know which environments should be protected and paid attention to."
stay
Create an "environmentally friendly journey" for guests
Hospitality Industry Seeks Sustainability Opportunities
According to a 2018 survey, the global tourism industry accounted for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions from 2009 to 2013.
Taking hotels as an example, it is recognized as one of the industries with the largest energy consumption.
Studies have shown that the average person uses up to 100 liters of water a day, and it may be more when traveling and staying in hotels.
The United Nations has been working with the tourism industry to improve sustainable development and in line with the goals set by the Paris Agreement and the United Nations, aiming to reduce its carbon footprint by 66% by 2030.
Around the world, more and more tourism companies are willing to invest heavily in sustainable development.
Banyan Tree Group, which established the three principles of economy, society and environmental protection in the 1990s, has carried out environmental conservation work in many countries, including restoration of coral reefs in the Maldives, restoration of mangroves in Phuket, Thailand, and Bintan Island in Indonesia. Conducting sea turtle conservation programs and protecting clownfish on Hainan Island, China.
It is understood that the clownfish protection plan is supported by the Banyan Tree Enterprise Environmental Protection Social Fund of the China Environmental Protection Foundation to support the establishment of a clownfish laboratory by the Coral Biology and Coral Reef Ecology Discipline Group of the South China Sea Institute of Oceanography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and is committed to building a large-scale clownfish breeding. The technical system ensures a stable artificial seed source of clownfish to increase the biomass of clownfish in this area.
The two marine laboratories established in the Maldives are both hosted by biological scientists. They not only protect the local coastline by assisting in the restoration of coral reefs, but tourists can also interact with experts in the laboratories and participate in specific environmental protection activities such as cleaning corals.
"Biodiverse natural habitats can sustain a variety of plants and animals, and support and form a symbiotic relationship with local communities. Maintaining this balance ensures a healthier and happier future." The relationship between the community and the environment, this answer is obviously more attentive.
In fact, as a "big player" in energy consumption scenarios during travel, the hotel industry has been exploring energy conservation and effective utilization many years ago.
For the first movers, it is important to provide guests with a comfortable stay experience without sacrificing energy efficiency.
“Having measurable KPIs through water, energy and waste management creates a sustainable environment.” According to Giovanni Beretta, Group Chief Operating Officer of Swire Hotels, by improving the sustainability of team members, guests, partners and communities Awareness and encouragement for action can have a positive, lasting impact on the environment.
To this end, Swire Hotels Group has made it clear that all hotels will reduce the electricity consumption per guest night by 15% by 2025, and further reduce it by 26% by 2030; In terms of water efficiency, reduce water consumption intensity by 8% by 2025 and by 12% by 2030.
At the same time, including the replacement of single-use packaging with recycled materials, waste management and prolonging the life of daily necessities are also given priority, and the ultimate purpose of all this is to encourage guests to make changes for the environment.
Swire Hotels Executive Director Wei Dexian pointed out that hotels should, within their capabilities, bring positive impacts to the community through firm decisions and practical actions, and promote the improvement of the overall living environment of human beings in a sustainable way.
Many hotel teams will look for various ways to let their guests enjoy a special "environmental journey" and raise their awareness of environmental issues, including but not limited to introducing various environmental protection projects and experiences.
In the "Earth Hour" event in March this year, The Upper House in Hong Kong, a subsidiary of Swire Group, replaced the lights in public areas with candlelight. Many guests who are used to the magnificent hotel facilities have consciously accepted the concept of environmental protection in a warm atmosphere. .
Jin Hui, CEO of Huazhu Group, once talked about the importance of ESG - ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) has become an important corporate evaluation standard today.
Jin Hui pointed out that under the background of the country's proposal of carbon neutrality and the global focus on sustainable development, ESG will become an important part of the hotel's long-term strategic planning.
In the future, Huazhu will not only continue to disclose ESG-related content, but also various departments will evaluate issues related to ESG sustainable development, and strive to seek sustainable development opportunities in various fields.
travel
Technological innovation helps green and low-carbon travel
Green and low-carbon life is everywhere.
At this stage, intelligent technologies such as IOT, AI, and 3D printing have provided more optimized solutions for human green development, and have penetrated into various scenarios of low-carbon travel.
In addition to the new energy vehicles used for short-distance self-driving tours, in the process of long-distance travel by air, paper boarding passes, health declaration cards, etc. are also terminated by the "paperless" boarding process.
"Electronic boarding pass" and "Civil Aviation Passenger Health Declaration System" are being used more and more.
According to the data of Air Travel, during the epidemic period, only paper health declaration cards can save more than 100,000 pieces per day, and about 120 tons of paper consumables can be saved in 7 months. Every tourist is helping low-carbon environmental protection with practical actions. travel.
The hotel industry has more extensive application of technology, which not only improves convenience and efficiency, but also makes great contributions to environmental protection.
The Hilton Group, which takes "Travel with Purpose" as its sustainable development strategy, plans to double its social impact investment and halve its carbon footprint by 2030.
To this end, its hotels in various places continue to open up new paths to improve the level of energy conservation and emission reduction. Last year, Hilton Group's first intelligent green and environmentally friendly kitchen waste treatment equipment settled in Shenzhen, which uses biotechnology to process kitchen waste. Degradation treatment, the hotel also uses the organic fertilizer produced by the degradation of kitchen waste to maintain the garden, and cultivates fruits and vegetables in the garden, which also enriches the "Little Gardener" experience course for children.
Earlier, Hilton Ningbo Dongqian Lake built a rainwater recycling system, using rainwater recycling and reuse, collecting rainwater from building roofs and roads, and after ultraviolet disinfection, it was reused as hotel landscape, road watering and greening water. , the equipment will save about 1,438 tons of water in 2021.
From the perspective of guests, using the power of science and technology, the increasingly intelligent check-in experience is not only pleasant, but also strengthens the concept of environmental protection.
For example, simply scan a QR code in your room to book a car, schedule laundry times, order all-day meals, and even choose your favorite way to omelette.
“Electronic menus are the norm in the industry right now. We hope that through a paperless dining experience, guests can be encouraged to think and do their part to protect the environment,” said Giovanni Beretta, Chief Operating Officer, Swire Hotels Group.