EplerWood International

EplerWood International seeks to create long-term systems for governments and business to cooperate on the management of climate impacts at the destination level using science-based sustainability benchmarking. This vision is part of an integrated set of ideas that have been led by EplerWood International for ten years, via engagement with collaborators and institutional support from GIZ, Harvard and Cornell Universities. At present, EWI is well on the way to creating the knowledge and data tools necessary to make this vision a reality. Megan Epler Wood spoke of this vision at COP 22 and continues to recommend our field uses standard climate accounting systems adapted to our industry and destination needs. Such accounting systems can guide decision making, attract finance, and help travel and tourism to manage its impacts on a holistic basis. To further this agenda, we have launched the development of a global Sustainable Destination Management academic certificate which will be implemented by Cornell University’s Sustainable Tourism Asset Management Program (STAMP), where Epler Wood is the Managing Director, at the Johnson College of Business and eCornell with partners around the world. This 40-hour virtual certificate program will be accessible for professional guidance worldwide in 2022. Tools to manage climate impacts at the destination level will be presented in the certificate program, based on global sustainability benchmarking standards, allowing a next generation of carbon accounting at the destination level to begin with trained professionals.