As the world continues to recover from the unprecedented shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, rebuilding a more sustainable tourism sector remains a shared responsibility for tourism organizations worldwide.
In the wake of the Glasgow Declaration for Climate Action in Tourism, Green Initiative is supporting businesses and destinations across the tourism industry to adopt a new approach on the challenges posed by climate change.
Start your journey here,
learning more about Green Initiative solutions for the tourism industry and downloading your copy of the Climate Action Guide for Tourism Businesses and Destinations.
Download The Climate Action Guide for Tourism Businesses and Destinations
The Green Initiative Certificates
Climate Positive
Climate Positive Certified means that your climate action has gone beyond neutrality, actually creating an environmental and climate benefit by removing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Carbon Neutral
The Carbon Neutral certificate is a mark of dedication to climate action, displayed by successfull organizations around the world. It is reserved for companies, products and events that have achieved carbon neutrality.
Carbon Measured
It endorses quality of your business Carbon Footprint, supporting consistency and transparency.
The United Nations Climate Change Agency has endorsed Green Initiative to provide advisory services and support to organizations willing to engage in climate action through the UN formal processes and technical standards.
“With the advice of Green Initiative, we´ve been able to promote the tourism recovery of Machu Picchu, decoupling growth from the increase of carbon emissions”.
Darwin Baca
Mayor of Machu Picchu City
“Greeninitiative’s certification reminds us all that the natural environment and native cultures are our industries most precious resources”.
José Koechlin
Presidente & CEO Inkaterra
“Green Initiative´s support has been instrumental in the international positioning of Bonito as a vibrant and climate-neutral ecotourism destination.”
Bruno Wendling
President – Mato Grosso do Sul Tourism Foundation
“Green Initiative showed us the way to
funding carbon-reducing projects to
offset the environmental impact of
international educational programs.”
Uli Leibrecht
CEPA Executive Director & Founder
Key Benefits
Comply with global value chains climate policies and standards
Introducing climate action at the core of your business model
Reducing financing costs through access to climate funding
Support your business innovation through climate-smart products and services
Be globally recognized by the United Nations
Design Your Climate Action
Is your Organization Ready to Deliver Climate Smart Products and Services?
Carbon Neutral Traveling?
A Tree for Every Client?
A Climate Positive Gift?
To read the guide now, please navigate bellow.
About the Climate Action Guide for Tourism Businesses and Destinations
This Climate Action Guide has been developed to assist businesses and destinations as they strive to adopt the climate-impact management practices recommended by the Glasgow Declaration for Climate Action in Tourism and accelerate the decarbonization of global tourism.
The Guide provides a practical roadmap on how to establish a business or destination’s baseline emissions, monitor changes in its carbon footprint, set emissions targets and evaluate progress, and publicize climate commitments and successes.
The guide was prepared by Green Initiative and technically reviewed by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC) and United Nations Conference on Trade (UNCTAD).
WE ARE PROUD TO COLLABORATE AND EXCHANGE KNOWLEDGE WITH THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS
Green Initiative is recognized by the United Nations to provide advisory services that lead to Carbon Neutral Certification.
Green Initiative its a member of the Science Task Force supporting the development of global principles for ecosystesm restoration.
Green Initiative supports the GCOM providing technical assistance and advisory services for cities to connect with Climate Action.
Together since 2015 developing standards for conducting ecological footprint studies worldwide.
Since 2022 Green Initiative it’s a member of the Glasgow Declaration Capacity Building Working Group.
Working together to introduce Climate Action into Tourism, leading to the Glasgow Declaration.
We Answer Your Questions
At Green Initiative we help our clients mobilize resources for climate financing, in addition to complying with climate regulations for international trade, improving the efficiency of their operations, reducing costs and adding value to their products and services, connecting them with the París Climate Agreement, and with the United Nations Sustainable Goals.
At the Green Initiative we have the necessary know-how to enable our clients to lead this transformation through actions that generate positive impacts for their organizations, as well as for the planet.
- we support your business full cycle of climate action, going beyond.
- science-based methodologies and tools.
- experience in various industries and countries.
- we are accredited as a support resource for United Nations Climate Change, GCOM, CDP, OnePlanet, Global Footprint Network, and UN Decade for Ecosystems Restoration.
- we provide a cost effective value proposition.
A Climate Certification is a formal endorsement of your organization’s work in progress and commitment to shift towards a low carbon emissions economy achieving net zero emissions by 2050 or before.
Green Initiative Climate Certifications offer direct benefits to increase your business competitiveness and sustainability performance, among which the following stand out:
- climate leadership
- climate action at the core of the business
- mobilize climate financing (loans and grants)
- compliance with international climate trade standards
- support innovation through climate-friendly products and services.
- aligns your business to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Green Initiative Carbon Neutral Certification A carbon neutral certification demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to decarbonisation, and the neutralisation of remaining impact through the support of environmental projects.
- Carbon Neutral Certified demonstrates that your business is committed to decarbonisation through clear science based mitigation targets, and has conducted the off-setting of remaining impact purchasing carbon credits that reduce and capture greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere (such as renewable energy, energy efficiency and forest conservation projects).
- Climate Positive Certified means that your business climate action has gone beyond neutrality, actually creating environmental and climate benefits by removing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through actions to protect, sustainably manage, and/or restore ecosystems.
We kneet the right sock for your shoe. In the travel industry, Green Initiative provides solutions for tourism operators offering carbon-neutral services as part of their post COVID recovery strategy.
Companies such as My Costa Rica and Inkaterra offset emissions with certified compensation projects and sponsor forest recovery.
Machu Picchu, the first CarbonNeutral Certified wonder of the world, is engaging tourists to offset their carbon footprint.
Adidas is sponsoring ecosystem restoration in a land the size of one football field in the Amazon; they are planting trees as part of their carbon mitigation goals.
REVERT is offsetting remaining emissions supporting climate solutions, and sponsoring climate positive action.
At Green Initiative, we provide funding for two complementary types of climate change mitigation solutions: one is planting native trees for ecosystems restoration, and the other is supporting natural and technology driven solutions through carbon credits.
Recently planted trees need to be nurtured and protected for years to provide environmental services such as carbon sinking. Planting a tree is a matter of having empathy with life on earth. Today, more than ever, we need to connect with global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss, and planting trees, under the scope of ecosystem restoration, provides a fundamental tool for reverting the natural climate crisis we are facing.
To conduct the carbon off-setting of your business the most consist approach to do so is through carbon credits.
Certificate for Emission Reduction, Certified Carbon Offset, or simply Carbon Credit is a certificate generated by an accountable body that represents reducing or removing one ton of CO2 from the atmosphere.
These certificates aim to monetize the climate benefits embedded in specific projects and provide them with an additional revenue stream.
A Carbon Credit enables you to offset your business’s unavoidable carbon emissions by funding projects worldwide that avoid, reduce or capture greenhouse gases. A Carbon Credit is a part of an international mechanism endorsed by the United Nations that allows your business to claim carbon neutrality.
There are different levels for climate change mitigation results. Within your business, you should prove impact by monitoring your Key Climate Performance Indicators. You should be able to do so simply by conducting your carbon footprint assessment annually using Green Initiative Carbon Management Tool.
From a carbon footprint offsetting perspective, your business will prove to have compensated its carbon emissions through the provision of a Carbon Compensation Certificate. This certificate provides complete detailed information of the source (VERRA, Gold Standard, or CDM), type of credits (carbon reduction, avoidance, siking, or removal), and the specific market ID number of the credits used by your business to claim carbon neutrality.
Monitoring tree planting for ecosystems restoration is done by combining on the ground supervision with high-precision satellite images. Green Initiative provides one of the complete monitoring services available, effectively comparing the baseline situation with restoration performance.
We only work with tree-planting partners who plant trees responsibly. In addition, our partners are regularly audited by third parties, and publish internal reports for us with updates and data from our planting sites. Check out this performance monitoring report for our Costa Rica tree planting project.