COP31: Tourism Heads to Its Thematic Day Wanting Proof, Not More Pledges

Tourism gets its own day at COP31 on 18 November 2026, five years after the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism — and the industry arrives in Antalya wanting proof, not more pledges. The COP31 Tourism Day Glasgow Declaration moment comes as revised, stricter operating guidelines for the declaration are due to be launched, after more than 130 organisations were removed from the initiative last year for failing to report on their climate commitments.

Key facts

• Tourism Thematic Day takes place on 18 November 2026 in the COP31 Blue Zone, under the title “Tourism Climate Solutions: Low-Carbon, Zero Waste and Climate-Resilient Destinations”.
• It is organised by UN Tourism, UNEP and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with keynotes by Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan and UN Tourism Executive Director Shijun Liu.
• Tourism accounts for 8.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, counting direct and indirect emissions in 2019, with 1.5 billion international arrivals that year.
• The Glasgow Declaration has 909 signatories as of the end of March 2026, with 443 climate action plans received, according to a UN Tourism briefing.
• 132 organisations were withdrawn from the Glasgow Declaration in April 2025 for failing to meet mandatory reporting requirements, according to the same UN Tourism briefing.

Five years after Glasgow: the credibility test

The Glasgow Declaration was launched at COP26 in 2021 as tourism’s shared climate commitment, with signatories pledging to halve emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Five years on, the question at COP31 is whether those pledges can be measured. Of the signatories that had submitted climate action plans by COP29, 74% were measuring progress, 92% included decarbonisation actions, 73% covered biodiversity, 41% adaptation and 44% finance, according to UN Tourism.

The removal of 132 organisations in April 2025 for lack of mandatory reporting compliance shows the rules are now being enforced, not just stated. The revised operating guidelines due to be launched at COP31 are expected to give signatories a clearer reporting framework. Industry publication Skift reports that tourism leaders want measurable results from COP31 rather than another round of pledges.

Tourism’s climate footprint

Tourism’s emissions reached 2,700 megatonnes directly and 5,200 megatonnes counting direct and indirect emissions in 2019, according to UN Tourism, citing University of Queensland research. That scale is why the sector has its own thematic day at COP31 — and why its promises are under scrutiny.

COP29 in 2024 was the first COP with a Tourism Day, drawing more than 700 stakeholders, and 52 governments signed the COP29 Declaration for Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism, pledging to address tourism in their climate plans, including their national climate targets. COP31’s Tourism Day is the next test of whether those government pledges turn into policy.

What Türkiye will showcase

As host country, Türkiye will showcase its national sustainable tourism model on 18 November: the Türkiye Environmental and Cultural Sustainability Programme, developed with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Four Green Zone panels will cover national transformation, sustainable tourism investment, the sustainability of cultural and gastronomic heritage, and cross-sector collaboration.

The tourism focus sits in sharp contrast with the conference’s own travel footprint. Watan News reported on 13 November that between 87 and 93 private jets flew into Antalya for COP31, according to Oxfam — a reminder that the travel to a climate summit is itself part of the story. Read more: Private jets at COP31 in Antalya

COP31 Tourism Day Glasgow Declaration: what to watch

This is a preview: Tourism Day takes place on 18 November, and the revised Glasgow Declaration guidelines are due to be launched there, not yet in force. What to watch is whether the new rules set measurable reporting deadlines, whether more governments commit to including tourism in their national climate plans, and whether Türkiye’s model is taken up by other destinations.

The travel agenda continues the next day, 19 November, with a session on CORSIA and national climate targets, organised by IATA and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. COP31 has already put sustainable transport on the agenda through the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, as Watan News reported: COP31 and the Decade of Sustainable Transport

Frequently asked questions

When is COP31 Tourism Day?

18 November 2026, in the Blue Zone in Antalya. The flagship session is titled “Tourism Climate Solutions: Low-Carbon, Zero Waste and Climate-Resilient Destinations”, organised by UN Tourism, UNEP and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

What is the Glasgow Declaration?

It is tourism’s climate action commitment, launched at COP26 in 2021. Signatories pledge to halve tourism emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050, and to report on their progress. It had 909 signatories as of the end of March 2026, according to a UN Tourism briefing.

Why were 132 organisations removed from the Glasgow Declaration?

They were withdrawn in April 2025 for failing to meet mandatory reporting requirements, according to a UN Tourism briefing. The figure is single-sourced to that briefing.

How big is tourism’s climate footprint?

Tourism accounted for 8.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, counting direct and indirect emissions — 2,700 megatonnes directly and 5,200 megatonnes in total — according to UN Tourism, citing University of Queensland research.

What will Türkiye showcase on Tourism Day?

Its national sustainable tourism model, the Türkiye Environmental and Cultural Sustainability Programme, developed with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, alongside four Green Zone panels on transformation, investment, heritage and collaboration.