From May 26 to June 1, Latin America celebrates the first-ever Sustainability Week (SxS), an initiative set to mark a turning point on the path toward more conscious, regenerative tourism aligned with the climate challenges of our time.
At Green Initiative, we join this coalition—led by Turtech, Plan 21, and Preferred by Nature—as strategic partners, actively participating with three unique climate certification case studies: Machu Picchu (Peru), Bonito (Brazil), and the newly announced Christ the Redeemer (Brazil).
A Regional Movement Toward Regenerative Tourism
Sustainability Week was born from a collaborative process with more than 50 Latin American companies that highlighted the urgent need to:
- Demystify the costs of sustainability,
- Accelerate the transformation of the tourism sector,
- Respond to the growing demand from conscious travelers, and
- Strengthen regional cooperation among public, private, and community stakeholders.
Throughout these seven days, SxS will roll out a strategy of environmental education, mentorship programs, collaborative campaigns, webinars, and a digital showcase promoting sustainable tourism experiences in Latin America.
Green Initiative: Track Record and Climate Action
As a leading authority in climate certification for tourism, Green Initiative will present three impactful cases during SxS that demonstrate how tourism, beyond reducing its footprint, can become a regenerative force:
1. Machu Picchu – First Carbon Neutral Wonder of the World
In partnership with Inkaterra, Grupo AJE, the Municipal Government of Machu Picchu, and SERNANP, Green Initiative certified Machu Picchu as the first carbon-neutral Wonder of the World. This process included:
- Municipal carbon footprint audits,
- Implementation of circular economy technologies (such as pyrolysis organic waste treatment plants),
- Cloud forest restoration with one million native trees.
📖 Read the full Machu Picchu case study here:
https://greeninitiative.eco/2022/10/10/machu-picchu-carbono-neutral/
2. Bonito – First Carbon Neutral Ecotourism Destination in the World
Located in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, Bonito pioneered integrating climate action into its core tourism strategy. In 2022, it became the world’s first certified carbon-neutral ecotourism destination after a rigorous evaluation of its carbon footprint and forest absorption capacity.
Bonito’s action plan includes:
- Reduction targets for 2030,
- A climate tourism policy aligned with the Glasgow Declaration,
- Composting projects and environmental education programs.
📖 Discover how Bonito is inspiring other destinations:
https://greeninitiative.eco/2023/06/21/bonito-carbono-neutral/
✝️ Christ the Redeemer – Global Icon on the Path to Carbon Neutral Certification
In May 2025, the Christ the Redeemer Sanctuary officially began its climate certification process with Green Initiative. This historic alliance aims to position the UNESCO World Heritage Site as a leader in sustainable tourism ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
The climate certification of Christ the Redeemer is a milestone that brings together faith, culture, conservation, and climate action. Its goal: to be a beacon of hope in times of planetary emergency.
📰 Learn more about this initiative in outlets such as Globo.com, G1, Folha PE, MSN, and Agenda do Poder.
How to Participate in Sustainability Week?
SxS is open to all organizations across the tourism ecosystem that want to:
- Offer sustainable experiences,
- Educate travelers and professionals,
- Amplify the sustainability message as a Media Partner,
- Join as Allies or Sponsors of the movement.
Participation includes visibility in digital campaigns, presence in the marketplace, access to performance metrics, and direct connection with conscious travelers.
Download the Portuguese and Spanish press releases.
🎯 Learn more or join at: https://sxs.turtech.travel
A Week That Can Change the Course of Tourism
In a world where tourism accounts for up to 8% of global carbon emissions, Sustainability Week is more than just an event—it’s an urgent call to collective action.
At Green Initiative, we reaffirm our commitment to lead by example, provide practical tools, and support destinations, businesses, and communities on their journey toward climate-smart and regenerative tourism.
This article was written by Ella Baehringer from the Green Initiative team
