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At the TRENZ Tourism Conference in Wellington this Thursday, supporters of Climate Liberation Aotearoa held banners, handed out leaflets and spoke through megaphones to protest luxury emissions, greenwashing, and the “free ride that the tourism industry’s international emissions get”.
Despite the premise of a peaceful protest, two supporters of Climate Liberation apprehended some of TRENZ’s media attendees outside of Takina, and argued with some media attendees. The exchange was brief and the conversation was quickly re-directed without any incident.
“TRENZ’s claims about sustainability are just greenwashing unless they start calling for international shipping and aviation emissions to be included in our government’s emission targets,” says Climate Liberation Aotearoa spokesperson Frank Preddey.
“The industry has so far been silent on this. There’s still time for them to step up. We challenge industry leaders to submit to the Climate Change Commission asking for effective regulation, rather than continuing the loopholes.
“Until the industry takes responsibility for cleaning up the industry, they will face increasing disruption from the people of Aotearoa who want better than greenwashing about 2050 targets or carbon credits.”
TRENZ is New Zealand’s largest international tourism business event, bringing hundreds of international travel buyers to New Zealand to meet with leading tourism operators.
“We appreciate and respect people’s right to peaceful protest,” says TIA chief executive Rebecca Ingram.
“Our focus this week is on assisting the tourism industry meet international and local buyers, introducing them to Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington and helping them get business done for the coming seasons.”
“Tourism is intertwined with the environment, and the proof is in the action. One way many tourism businesses are improving their sustainability is in the form of the Tourism Sustainability Commitment.
“This 12-point sustainability pledge was created by TIA in 2017 and 1900 businesses have now signed up to it. We are also tracking the progress these businesses are making.”
“Most of the conversations at this conference are about doing more, increasing tourist numbers, and competing for more market share. They’re ignoring the fact that as tourism numbers go up, emissions go up, and that currently as a nation we’re not taking responsibility for those emissions,” says Frank.
“If Tourism Industry Aotearoa wants to brand itself as sustainable, they’d better be prepared to do the work. That means promoting forms of tourism that are less wasteful, produce less emissions, and are less harmful to Aotearoa’s native environment. In the meantime, they’re not going to know a moment of peace,” says Frank.
