Global warming is accelerating

24 October marks International Climate Change Day to raise awareness of one of our major challenges. Human activities are estimated to have caused the global temperature to rise by 1°C above pre-industrial levels. And global warming could reach an additional 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if drastic action is not taken.

Human-induced global warming is intensifying. It is estimated that the Earth’s temperature has risen by 0.08°C per decade since 1880, although the rate since 1981 has doubled. The temperature is now rising at a rate of almost 0.2°C per decade, although in regions such as the Arctic the rate is up to two to three times faster. Worse still, it could rise by a further 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052, according to a UN report.

Most of the warming has occurred in the last 40 years. In fact, the nine years between 2013 and 2021 are among the ten warmest years on record, according to US government measurements. And 2016 and 2020 are estimated to have been the warmest on record. 

The search for culprits

Natural phenomena such as volcanic activity or variations in the Earth’s orbit play a role in global warming, but the changes observed in the planet’s climate since the mid-20th century are mainly due to human activity.

The main cause is the burning of fossil fuels, which has increased as the human population has grown. Their combustion generates greenhouse gases that trap the sun’s rays in the Earth’s atmosphere, raising the average temperature of the Earth’s surface.

The gases that contribute most to the problem are carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, water vapour, methane and nitrous oxide. Their concentrations in the atmosphere are at their highest levels in the last two million years.

Ice blocks extracted from Greenland, Antarctica and some glaciers reveal that the current rate of warming is ten times higher than it was immediately after the last ice age. Carbon dioxide from human activities is increasing about 250 times faster than that from natural sources.

Not all countries contribute equally to global warming: the 100 countries with the lowest emissions account for 3% of total emissions, while the ten with the highest emissions account for 68%. 

The impact on the oceans

Global sea levels have risen by about 20 centimetres in the last century. However, the rate in the last two decades is almost double that of the last century and accelerating slightly each year. No wonder. According to NASA, Greenland lost an average of 279 billion tonnes of ice per year between 1993 and 2019, while Antarctica lost about 148 billion tonnes per year.

In addition, it is estimated that since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the acidity of the ocean’s surface waters has increased by 30% due to rising carbon dioxide emissions. The ocean has absorbed 20-30% of the emissions generated by mankind in recent decades and the upper 100 metres show a warming of more than 0.3°C since 1969.

Persistent effects

The bad news is that warming caused by human-induced emissions from the pre-industrial period to the present will persist for centuries or millennia and will continue to cause further long-term changes in the climate.

However, future climate-related risks will depend on the rate, peak and duration of warming. Overall, they will be greatest if global warming exceeds 1.5°C in the coming decades. And, unfortunately, global warming is projected to reach about 3.2°C by the end of the century.

Although more and more countries are committing to achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, half of these reductions need to occur before 2030 to keep warming below 1.5°C. In fact, fossil fuel production should decrease by about 6% per year between 2020 and 2030.

Global warming is already causing changes in weather patterns and poses a serious threat in terms of the extreme events it triggers: intense droughts, severe fires, catastrophic storms and a serious decline in biodiversity.

We can pay the bill for energy change now or pay the bill for climate change in the coming decades.

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There is an increasing consensus in our society that accepts that economic growth must respect sustainability standards, and that debates how to link ecology and economy.

Economic growth, as a pillar of the capitalist system, has often been associated with the urban condition, the growth of cities, and the unrestricted expansion of their metropolitan areas. Both the services and the infrastructure needed are expanding, changing the territory and, in return, leaving aside the natural environment and the consequences of its alteration.

It is now clear that this has caused an ecological emergency, and many consciences have changed. They have now the opinion that the economy cannot forget nature, which is an increasingly accepted idea. It is probably outside the more purely urban fabric that more steps are taken in this direction, driven by the sensitivity of landscape conservation and natural heritage.

Following this goal of protection and appreciation of this heritage, the local world created the Landscape charters. Since 2006, Decree 343 of the Generalitat develops Law 8/2005 for the protection, management, and planning of the landscape, although some counties such as Alt Penedès have already had their own since 2002.

How does economy fits in sustainability?

The promotion of those sectors that are better adapted to nature and territory, such as wine, are one of the most common bets. It is a type of industry that combines agriculture and tourism, bringing benefits to the region in a minimum of two ways and enhancing the landscape. Some studies show that sales increase when the buyer links them to an environment.

Maintaining this sustainability, however, is sometimes not that simple. The first issue is related to tourism, about which we have talked, and the protection of the landscape as an exclusive setting against overcrowding. This can affect, in fact, the comfort and daily life of the inhabitants themselves. Secondly, we could go back to everything that the industry requires, which will eventually give jobs and leave profits in the form of taxes, such as the creation of industrial estates.

A matter of mobility and energy

The infrastructures for mobility and transport and the generation of energy needed to move everything are perhaps the two factors where the economy finds it more difficult to become sustainable. The local world has responded with great caution and concern to the increasingly imminent plans for the creation of wind or photovoltaic parks that, while seeming to lead to the generation of cleaner energy, are thought to clash in full with landscape care.

One of the territory’s arguments is that if urban areas are the big consumers of energy, they should also be impacted by generating them—and proposals have been made, such as covering the roofs of industrial areas with solar panels. However, the paralysis of decisions due to the debate—in Catalonia only a wind turbine has been installed in twelve years—does not stop what others can do, and there are those who consider that opportunities are being missed. Recently, for example, a wind farm project was presented in Aragon to feed our country with renewable energy.

But big cities have more open debates between growing or guaranteeing ecological minimums and, as we have mentioned, transport is a key one. Recently, the proposal to expand El Prat Airport has returned to the forefront, a project that from a business sector is seen as a country project, essential to position Barcelona and Catalonia as an attractive and accessible hub for business, whereas many citizens and groups see it as completely unsustainable, as they call for a much deeper discussion about how and how much we want to grow. Surely the latter is the key to the debate we need to face soon.

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Després d’una reducció temporal provocada per la pandèmia, la petjada de carboni torna a créixer i el canvi climàtic s’accelera. Individus, empreses i reguladors poden contribuir a minorar l’emissió de gasos d’efecte d’hivernacle. Vegem com està evolucionant i quines mesures contribuirien a mitigar-la.

Només les necessitats energètiques de l’activitat humana van generar 36.000 milions de tones de diòxid de carboni (CO₂) el 2021, segons l’Agència Internacional de l’Energia. Una referència per a assimilar la magnitud d’aquesta xifra? Pensa que tota la població mundial posada en una balança no arribaria als 400 milions de tones. És a dir, el CO₂ que emetem en només un any multiplica per cent el pes de tota la humanitat.

El diòxid de carboni és el gas d’efecte hivernacle més abundant i que més ha contribuït a l’escalfament global en les últimes dècades. Les emissions directes i indirectes d’aquest gas, juntament amb el metà, l’òxid de nitrogen, l’hexafluorur de sofre, els hidrofluorocarburs i els perfluorocarburs, conformen el que es coneix com a “petjada de carboni”. Es tracta d’un indicador ambiental encunyat als anys noranta per a mesurar la contribució de l’activitat humana a l’escalfament del planeta.

La realitat és que estem molt lluny dels objectius marcats per a aturar el canvi climàtic. Els científics adverteixen que les emissions netes de CO₂ haurien de reduir-se a zero d’ara el 2050 si volem evitar les seves conseqüències catastròfiques. L’augment de temperatura global porta aparellats fenòmens meteorològics extrems i una pujada del nivell del mar a causa del desglaç.

Emergència climàtica

L’ONU estima que des de 1990 les emissions de diòxid de carboni s’han incrementat gairebé un 50 %. De fet, l’Organització Meteorològica Mundial apunta que els nivells actuals de CO₂ a l’atmosfera són similars als de fa tres milions d’anys, quan la temperatura mitjana de la Terra era 3 °C més elevada i el nivell del mar se situava molt per sobre de l’actual.

Per això, és lògic que un dels Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible establerts per l’ONU incideixi en la necessitat d’aturar el canvi climàtic. La fórmula demana prendre mesures que en els pròxims anys ens portin a una economia baixa en diòxid de carboni.

De fet, la immensa majoria de països del món van signar el 2015 l’Acord de París, un tractat internacional que pretén limitar l’escalfament global. Així i tot, la nostra petjada de carboni ha continuat creixent. Les emissions de gasos d’efecte hivernacle només es van reduir el 2020. I la raó va ser l’aturada econòmica que va provocar la pandèmia.

L’informe Climate Transparecy Report calcula que les emissions dels països del G-20, responsables del 75% dels gasos d’efecte hivernacle, van tornar a créixer un quatre per cent el 2022. La Xina, l’Índia, Indonèsia i l’Argentina ja estan en nivells superiors als de 2019.

Per zones geogràfiques, la Xina, els Estats Units, la Unió Europea i l’Índia sumen més de la meitat dels gasos emesos a l’última dècada. Quant a activitats, les que produeixen més CO₂ són la generació d’energia i calor (40%), el transport de béns i persones (20%) i l’activitat industrial (20%).

Calcula la teva petjada de carboni personal

La quantitat de gasos d’efecte hivernacle que genera cada individu a la seva vida quotidiana en desplaçar-se, alimentar-se i consumir recursos es coneix com a petjada de carboni personal. Per a evitar un augment de temperatura global superior als 2 °C, The Nature Conservancy, una ONG mediambiental, calcula que hauríem de reduir-la a la meitat abans de 2050.

Existeixen nombroses eines per a calcular la petjada de carboni personal. En concret, la calculadora de l’ONU té en compte aspectes com les característiques de la nostra llar, el consum d’energia, el tipus de transport que utilitzem diàriament, la quantitat de vols que realitzem, els nostres hàbits alimentaris i quant reciclem.

Algunes mesures per a reduir la nostra petjada de carboni personal són apostar per un consum responsable, moure’s de forma més sostenible, moderar la despesa energètica i rebaixar la quantitat de residus que generem.

El pes de les empreses

Bastant superior a la petjada de carboni personal és la que deixen les empreses en processos com la fabricació o el transport de mercaderies. És el que es coneix com a petjada de carboni corporativa. D’aquí la importància d’incidir en aquest apartat per a reduir l’escalfament global.

Les companyies poden reduir el seu impacte mediambiental millorant la seva eficiència energètica o incrementant el percentatge d’energia renovable que consumeixen. També poden recórrer a eines de compensació, com la inversió en projectes mediambientals, el pagament d’impostos verds o la compra de drets d’emissió de CO₂.

Una tendència a l’alça

Milers d’empreses ja publiquen la seva petjada de carboni, però no totes la calculen igual. La major part de les grans multinacionals obvien les emissions indirectes, aquelles que formen part de la seva cadena de valor, però que no depenen directament d’elles.

Un exemple paradigmàtic és el d’Amazon. La pressió d’activistes i inversors va portar a aquest gegant del comerç en línia a fer pública la seva petjada de carboni per primera vegada l’any passat. No obstant això, s’acaba de conèixer que en el seu informe només comptabilitzava una petita part de les emissions generades amb les seves vendes.

 A diferència d’altres comerços, Amazon només comptabilitzava l’impacte mediambiental total dels productes propis, que suposen únicament l’1% de les seves vendes. La companyia no assumeix les emissions generades per l’ús d’un producte d’una altra marca una vegada que els seus repartidors el lliuren al client.

Un incentiu per a la sostenibilitat

El gran impacte de l’activitat empresarial en el medi ambient ha fet que cada vegada més veus reclamin l’obligatorietat per a les companyies de publicar la seva petjada de carboni als informes anuals.

Tant és així que la Securities and Exchange Commission, el regulador borsari dels Estats Units, acaba de proposar que les empreses cotitzades en aquest país hagin de revelar les seves emissions de gasos d’efecte d’hivernacle. I, molt important també, que ho facin seguint uns mateixos criteris.

 Segons molts experts, obligar les empreses a publicar la seva petjada de carboni pot contribuir decisivament a escurçar el camí cap a una economia lliure d’emissions contaminants. Cada cop més inversors valoren les qüestions mediambientals en les seves decisions d’inversió.

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Widespread price hikes are also affecting the energy transition, specifically in the rising cost of materials and minerals used in green technologies. Marifé Fariñas, from 11Onze’s Back Office team, explains how the green revolution is driving up the price of raw materials.

No, the green revolution is not the cause of high inflation, but it is true that part of the price increase is attributable to the energy transition. As Fariñas explains, “the green revolution has increased the price of raw materials, some by as much as 90%”. This price increase, directly related to the materials and minerals used in favour of renewable energies, is known as ‘greenflation’.

This phenomenon is a paradox that necessarily goes with the effort to fight climate change, “fleeing from fossil fuels increases the demand for renewable energies, but this demand increases the price of the materials that make up these products,” says Fariñas.

Although a reduction in the demand for these raw materials cannot be the solution if we want to achieve the energy transition goals, economies of scale, more financing for green projects, and above all, reducing the cost of this financing, can offset part of the effects of green inflation.

Making these changes implies increasing production, but as the Back Office agent says, “although this implies production costs, experts do not believe it will be a threat to the viability of green energy”.

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L’increment d’esdeveniments climàtics extrems suposa un repte per als governs i la població. Quines són les conseqüències econòmiques del canvi climàtic? Com ens podem preparar per als desastres naturals que afecten el nostre territori? En parlem amb Gemma Vallet, directora d’11Onze District i Carolina Rafales, de l’equip de producte.

Es preveu que l’estiu d’aquest any sigui un dels més calorosos de la sèrie històrica, es tracta d’una previsió que sembla repetir-se any rere any. Una entrada d’estiu marcada per un temps inestable i tempestes. Cada vegada més sovint, els meteoròlegs avisen que ve una nova DANA (depressió aïllada a nivells alts), més coneguda com a gota freda, que pot provocar precipitacions intenses durant hores o dies.

Els efectes del canvi climàtic són cada cop més palpables i no ens queda més remei que adaptar-nos i prendre les mesures necessàries per pal·liar els efectes econòmics i socials que acompanyen aquests esdeveniments climàtics extrems. Com explica Carolina Rafales, “Aquests fenòmens meteorològics poden presentar tempestes violentes i pedregades, per això cal estar preparats”.

Com fer front a una DANA

Aquest fenomen meteorològic es caracteritza per les precipitacions torrencials, sovint violentes i acompanyades de forts vents, que poden produir inundacions. El fet que aquestes precipitacions es produeixin en poc temps i en zones molt localitzades fa que puguin causar d’anys a les infraestructures i edificis perquè es fa difícil canalitzar tanta quantitat d’aigua.

Si la regió on vivim pot ser afectada per una gota freda “és essencial estar informats del desenvolupament de la tempesta i evitar sortir de casa a peu o en cotxe”, apunta Rafales. 

Així mateix, ens recorda que “cal assegurar-se que les canonades i desaigües de casa nostra estan lliures d’obstruccions”.

De la mateixa manera, no estaria de més preparar-nos per si marxés la llum, un dels efectes negatius que sovint acompanyen aquestes tempestes. Rafales ens aconsella tenir sempre els mòbils ben carregats, o bateries externes auxiliars. En casos d’inundacions extremes haurem d’abandonar l’àrea afectada i buscar refugi en una zona alta, per la qual cosa és aconsellable tenir reparat un kit d’emergències que inclogui roba de recanvi, llanternes, una ràdio, una farmaciola i provisions.

Si vols conèixer una assegurança justa per a la teva llar i per a la societat, descobreix 11Onze Segurs.

Podem canviar el món? Quina és la nostra capacitat real d’impacte sobre l’entorn que ens envolta? Lara de Castro, HR Business Partner d’11Onze, explica què és el consum conscient i com podem contribuir a la sostenibilitat del planeta amb les nostres decisions de compra quotidianes.

Sovint subestimem l’impacte que els nostres actes individuals tenen sobre l’entorn que ens envolta. Però totes les accions, per petites que siguin, contribueixen a modelar el món. Lara de Castro ho deixa clar al següent vídeo amb un exemple molt evident.

Com ella mateixa adverteix, hi ha moltes persones que pensen que un acte individual sovint “és massa feble” per a tenir un impacte significatiu en l’entorn, “però no és així”. Cada acció compta i té conseqüències que es poden acumular a les de la resta de la comunitat. La realitat és que “les nostres decisions més quotidianes són rellevants, per petites que siguin”. En aquest sentit, és molt evident el paper que juguen totes les decisions de compra si som consumidors conscients.

Què és el consum conscient?

Els consumidors conscients són persones que escullen els productes i els serveis amb criteris que van “més enllà de la relació qualitat-preu”, ja que inclouen l’impacte ambiental i social com un element decisori en els seus hàbits de compra. Una conseqüència és l’aposta pel comerç de proximitat, que “és una manera de donar suport als productors locals i evitar l’impacte econòmic i ambiental del transport”, com explica Lara de Castro.

Un altre exemple de consum conscient el trobem en l’aigua. Si volem reduir la contaminació al planeta, podem substituir el consum d’aigua embotellada, “amb totes les conseqüències que sabem que té el plàstic”, per aigua de l’aixeta tractada amb filtres sostenibles.

Com indica Lara de Castro al final del vídeo, si tots som més conscients “en els petits detalls de la vida quotidiana” la realitat és que “sí que podem canviar el món”. La decisió és nostra.

Si vols descobrir com beure la millor aigua, estalviar diners i ajudar al planeta, entra a Imprescindibles 11Onze.

We are not sufficiently aware of the power we have as consumers to influence the economy. But we have to start believing it: citizens can change the market and make local and sustainable trade even more important.

The pandemic has made us rediscover the importance of community and proximity. Restrictions on mobility have made us realise that relying on products from the other side of the world makes no sense. In fact, we are still suffering from delays in the supply and trade of products because of the global confinement we have experienced and the geopolitical turmoil that never stops. 

When we talk about local products, we often only think of food products, but we must also think of services: telephony, health care, energy, finance… All these services are usually offered by large corporations that have their headquarters outside Catalonia and, therefore, do not invest their profits in the citizens of Catalonia. 

On the other hand, if we contract the services of companies, businesses or cooperatives in Catalonia, the profits obtained are invested in our community, and also contribute to providing work for thousands and thousands of people.

11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the super app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!

At a time when the planet is calling for responsibility and common sense, consumption has also entered a new phase. Buying new products is no longer the only option. More and more people are choosing to extend the useful life of everything that already exists, and this has given rise to a trend that is not only here to stay, but is changing the culture of consumption: recommerce.

The concept is simple but powerful: selling and buying second-hand products through digital platforms. The goal? To reduce waste, reuse what is still useful, and avoid the overproduction that fuels the traditional consumption model. It is the practical version of the three famous Rs of the circular economy: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

This change in habits, which until a few years ago was considered minority or alternative, has spread strongly among consumers who want to save money and at the same time have a positive impact on the environment. To this end, a digital ecosystem of platforms has emerged that facilitate the sale and purchase of second-hand items in a fast, secure and affordable way. Here are some highlights:

• One of the major drivers of this revolution is Back Market, a platform specialising in refurbished technology. Smartphones, laptops, cameras, small appliances… everything passes through the hands of professionals who ensure it is in good working order before putting it up for sale. In addition, the platform itself acts as a guarantee, offering a rigorous and responsive after-sales service. It is a smart way to buy the latest technology at much more affordable prices without generating more electronic waste.
• For those who want to sell what they no longer use — or find bargains on all kinds of products — Wallapop remains one of the most popular options. This app has positioned itself as a kind of digital second-hand market, where proximity and direct contact between buyers and sellers facilitates logistics. From furniture to sports equipment, video games and children’s clothing, it is a window onto responsible and practical consumption.
• Another platform to consider is Letgo, which stands out for incorporating artificial intelligence technology. This functionality allows objects to be recognised from an image, automatically categorised and quickly published. The result is a very smooth and efficient user experience, especially useful for those who want to sell without complications.
• In the field of mobility, Coches.net has become a benchmark. This app not only allows you to buy and sell second-hand cars, but also new vehicles, motorhomes, and vans. The added value is the guarantee offered by many of the professional sellers on the platform, which generates trust and reduces risks in such a sensitive transaction as the purchase of a vehicle.
• Clothing, one of the major sources of mass consumption and pollution, also has its own specific platforms. Vinted is a fashion buying and selling community that works like a social network: people sell their clothes with photos or videos, and can follow each other. It is a fresh and fun way to give a second life to clothes we no longer use, while also renewing our wardrobe without falling into the spiral of consumption driven by fast fashion.
• We cannot forget Milanuncios, a classic classified ad site that has successfully adapted to the digital world. With a wide variety of offerings that go beyond objects—jobs, housing, services—it remains a very useful platform for all kinds of transactions, especially in more rural areas or for people looking for more traditional options.
• And when it comes to specific niches, an app like Bkie shows just how far personalisation can go within recommerce. Dedicated exclusively to the sale of bicycles and cycling equipment, it has created its own loyal and active community. With cycling on the rise, this app has managed to capture the needs of a demanding group of users who are looking for quality, good prices and trust between users.

This new way of consuming not only has environmental and economic benefits. It also changes the relationship we have with objects, makes us more aware of their value and educates us in a more mature culture of consumption, based less on novelty and more on responsible use.

Buying second-hand today is no longer synonymous with necessity, but with awareness. And recommerce is a powerful tool for making that change a reality. Through these apps, we can shop better, sell what we don’t use and actively contribute to a more sustainable, humane and efficient economy. So next time you think about buying something new, ask yourself first: do I really require it new? The answer may surprise you… and the planet will thank you for it.

11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!

We are all aware of the need to reduce plastic consumption to mitigate its impact on the planet. It is therefore important that we are proactive in making small changes to our habits to eliminate or make better use of plastics.

The enormous environmental problems caused by single-use plastics are well documented. Every year we dump millions of tonnes of plastic waste into the seas and oceans, literally forming vast islands of non-biodegradable rubbish that accumulate thanks to ocean currents.

Governments, corporations, and major supermarket brands are implementing changes to reduce their consumption and mitigate the environmental impact of the plastic waste generated. Still, we can harness the power we have as consumers to spur a paradigm shift that can wait no longer.

So, here are five habits that we can include in our daily routine to easily reduce the amount of plastic we use.

Use cloth bags

Despite the fact that the ban on the giveaway of plastic bags came into force in Catalonia in March 2017 and that from 1 January 2021 there will be a ban on the giveaway of lightweight plastic bags offered to consumers, we still use bags that, although compostable, contain a large amount of plastic. Carrying cloth bags, a basket, or a shopping trolley saves us unnecessary plastic consumption.

Buy food wholesale

Buying in bulk eliminates unnecessary packaging and promotes responsible consumption because it allows us to take from the shop only what we will consume. Our bags and packaging, preferably glass, can be reused many times.

Use environmentally friendly detergents

Some of the most common ingredients in conventional detergents can be highly harmful to the environment. Fortunately, there are cleaning products made with ecological criteria, such as Natulim’s biodegradable detergent strips, which do not generate environmental waste and avoid the use of plastic in their packaging.

Eliminate single-use products

Disposable products such as plastic cutlery, plates, cups, straws, and razors may be practical, but they create large amounts of waste that could easily be avoided by replacing them with products made of glass, metal, or other materials.

Avoid or recycle coffee capsules

It goes without saying that buying ground coffee and making coffee with a traditional coffee machine is much more environmentally friendly than using coffee capsules. That said, not everyone has the time or patience to make coffee in the traditional way once they are used to single-serve pods. Fortunately, some capsule manufacturers offer recycling schemes to take advantage of this waste and give it a second life.

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Tourism is one of the businesses that shows one of the highest capital flow worldwide. As per the report from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), in 2019, 1.4 billion of international tourists were recorded and up to between 100 and 120 million of jobs are linked to it.

It is, therefore, a sector with an undeniable weight in the world’s economy, and more particularly, with a direct affectation to practically all the inhabitants in the planet either in an active form as travellers or in a passive one as locals.

The touristic sector asks for regulation and responsibility

Given its importance, since years ago there are more and more organisations, Companies and collective bodies that ask for a sustainable tourism system that can be kept over time and nourish the population. Everything points to the fact that this industry will continue growing during the next years and, therefore, if the current model does not change, the negative impact that it generates will increase at the same rate. We are all currently familiarised with sustainability as a concept and we even have adopted certain daily routines that contribute to respect the environment. An attitude that changes more or less when we travel: we leave lights switched on, recycling, take care of public spaces, using more ecological transport ways, spend the necessary water, using less plastic … actions that we may miss when we are on holidays and which, by themselves, do not generate an impact, although they may mean a higher issue when they are multiplied by 1.4 billion people.

Within this context, and with the urgency to change the touristic model into a more responsible perspective, it pops-up the sustainable tourism concept, understood as the one which “satisfies current needs without compromising the capacity of future generations to satisfy their own needs”, as it is described in the Brundtland report. It will be about then, to minimise the negative impact that tourism is currently generating and to maximise its benefits, mainly from the three big pillars: environmental, sociocultural and economical.

To reduce the environmental impact to preserve future 

Tourism very much depends on the environmental quality to survive and evolve but, paradoxically, this is one of the main activities that it harms. Infrastructures construction like airports and roads, highly polluted transport ways by land, sea and air, creation of equipment and touristic resorts like restaurants, shopping centres, golf fields or sportive areas are examples of the negative impact that it brings to any region. All of this brings also risk to the flora and fauna in the area, which in the past years has worsened the situation of hundreds of species, especially the marine ones, which have not been able to overcome the changes that human pollution has caused in their natural habitat.  

In parallel, it has been thanks to tourism that some natural areas have become protected areas or they are areas with especial care being taken orientated to preserve the space looking forward to the future. This is the positive impact where sustainable tourism should be betting: to achieve the maintenance of care of spaces both natural and urban, by governments’ organisms to favour both, local citizens and future visitors.

Controlling the sociocultural impact and to bet for the diversity wealth

The willingness to often travel comes motivated by the restlessness to know other Countries, together with everything that this implies: culture, language, food and costumes. Diversity within the globalism is foreseen, and this arouses respect, tolerance and knowledge by both parts, but especially from the visitor’s point of view. For sustainable tourism it is essentially this cultural preservation but, amongst everything the respect for it. Guaranteeing a value experience therefore, must mean to guarantee sociocultural wealth.

A non-planned tourism, other than being a nuisance to local inhabitants, can bring miserable consequences on their lives and their quality of life, an issue that some areas of Catalonia have already suffered first-hand in terms of gentrification, this is a disproportionate increase of dwellings’ and plots’ prices that turn into, those being inhabitants, to look for more economically viable alternatives, giving way to those who can invest, a fact that may not have a direct relation to tourism in some cases but which, without doubt, has meant an aggravating item. 

The increase in prices in touristic  is one of the reasons to destabilise local people, forcing them to assume higher prices, well above the standard prices they could find in any other street of the city outside the touristic path. If we look at Barcelona, coronavirus crises forced many restaurants in touristic areas to lower their prices to match those offered in the rest of the city, showing the prices war that tourism business means. Avoiding this through regulation policies could not only protect local citizens but ensuring tourists pay for the right price of the product.

Positive economic impact: investing in people

From and economical point of view, it makes sense that as a business, tourism should bring benefits to the related area, but the challenge is making it in an equitable and sustainable way. It will bring nothing to improve the turnover if this does not bring a positive impact in the welcoming area. This is, to have a true benefit it has to mean an advantage to all implied parties and, if managed in a controlled and efficient way, tourism can have the enormous power of enriching the population through the creation and maintenance of jobs both, direct and indirect. 

On the contrary some multinationals, way away from applying a sustainable tourism system, choose to do the other way around, what is known as “scape”. These are business models where profits are not left in the welcoming Country nor bring any profit to the Country, like in hotels with an all-inclusive regime, where customers do not go away from the resort and, therefore, do not generate a positive impact to the area’s economy. They do create an impact indeed but negative as far as taxes is concerned, since the required infrastructures to welcome tourism are often financed through this business. It will require though to weight the generated impact of tourism against the cost that population  pays for. If there is no balance, then we are presumably facing a non-sustainable system and which will need to be revisited.

Tourism is in the end, our joint responsibility since we have all been involved for some time. There are actions that depend only on the individual responsibility and commitment to bet for a sustainable life model, also when we travel. The other side of the management, and that with a higher impact, belongs to the private and public organisations that will need to plan tourism facing next coming years with a clear motive: a bet for sustainability is a bet for the future.

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