Boracay signs on as ‘climate friendly’ tourist destination
LOCAL government officials, resort owners, businessmen and other stakeholders on Boracay in Aklan province have banded to make the world-famous resort island a climate friendly destination.
The “Save the Climate, Save Boracay” project, made Boracay the second tourist destination enlisted by Greenpeace to become part of efforts to make “enlist top island destinations in Southeast Asia to decrease their carbon footprint and promote awareness of climate change and solutions that can be implemented by the tourism industry,” the international environmental organization said in a statement Thursday.
In December 2007, Greenpeace and Bali Hotels Association launched “Energy Efficient Bali,” with the largest hotels and resorts vowing to use energy efficient and renewable energy systems.
“Boracay can become a model of a climate-friendly destination for many other tourist destinations in Asia and around the world,” Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director Von Hernandez said in the statement.
Hernandez led Greenpeace volunteers who arrived in Boracay onboard the vessel Rainbow Warrior to witness the signing of “Save the Climate, Save Boracay” manifesto by local stakeholders.
The Rainbow Warrior is in the Philippines to spearhead the Greenpeace “Quit Coal Tour” in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
“We are pleased that many resorts here are already implementing various energy saving measures which with a little more assistance and encouragement could be heavily replicated in all the establishments in Boracay,” Hernandez said. “Climate change poses real and huge risks to the tourism industry and the people who depend on the viability of this sector for their livelihood.”
Explaining the threat posed by climate change, the statement cited a 2007 Greenpeace study that showed a rise in sea level could inundate “700 million square kilometers of coastal areas throughout the country, including the island of Boracay, as well as the low-lying areas of Sulu, Camarines Sur, Palawan, and Zamboanga, amongst others.”
“Save the Climate, Save Boracay” project is a partnership between Greenpeace, the municipality of Malay, Department of Tourism, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Boracay Foundation Inc, Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Mother Earth Foundation.
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