Marbella

Marbella Town Hall's aim is to protect sustainable tourism in Marbella. It is also our commitment to work to accelerate climate action in the tourism sector. We want to support the global engagement to halve emissions to achieve the goals of the 2030 agenda and reach Net Zero by 2050. Marbella is a city dedicated to sustainability and the environment. Our location and friendly climate are unbeatable, surrounded by the mountainous massif called "Sierra Blanca" which belongs, geologically speaking, to the same mountain range that has recently been declared National Park (“Sierra de las Nieves”). We share the same flora and fauna, being our mountain range the home of autochthonous species such as the mountain goat and a place of passage for migratory birds. We also have 27 kilometres of coastline, so the sea and its beaches are important to us. We are very conscious of the cleanliness of our beaches and seabed, and it is no coincidence that most of our beaches are awarded the blue flag of quality every year. The current pandemic situation caused by COVID 19 has made us even more aware of the importance of caring for our environment. Climate change is a fact caused by years of emissions of polluting gases into the atmosphere, our dependence on fossil fuels and the generation and management of waste. According to the latest UNWTO/ITF research, CO2 emissions from tourism grew by at least 60% between 2005 and 2016, and transport-related CO2 caused 5% of global emissions in 2016. Unless we accelerate decarbonisation, CO2 emissions from the sector could increase by 25% or more by 2030, compared to 2016. Striking a balance with nature is essential. As described in One Planet Vision for a responsible tourism recovery from COVID-19, committing to and planning for a green recovery offers us a unique opportunity to transform the sector in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. If we can quickly move away from carbon- and material-intensive ways of delivering visitor experiences, instead prioritising community and ecosystem wellbeing, then tourism can be a leader in the transformation to a low-carbon future. The alternative is worsening vulnerability. Climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss threaten most tourism activities. Rising sea levels, more frequent flooding and other extreme weather events threaten the livelihoods of communities everywhere, from infrastructure and supply chains to food security. A fair conversion to Net Zero by 2050 will only be possible if tourism recovery accelerates the adoption of sustainable consumption and production, and redefines our future success to consider not only economic value but the regeneration of ecosystems, biodiversity and communities. For all these reasons, our city is clear that sustainability is key to tourism and that is why we are firmly committed to the aims set out in this Glasgow Declaration on climate action in tourism.