World's First Eco Island!

The Tokelau group of islands in the South Pacific has recently began running on solar power, becoming the first nation operating through sustainable means.

Located in the Western Polynesian tropical moist forests region, Tokelau enjoys sunshine all year round, which makes solar installations well-suited for the area.

New solar panels will replace the 2,000 barrels of diesel, annually used by the island's 1,400 residents, and additional energy will be harvested in the form of bio fuel made from local coconuts!

We may as well call them "Coconut Islands"! It's just more suitable!

All jokes aside though, this is a great development and we hope we can see the expansion of this achievement in the near future for the sake of all humanity.

By: Progress On 01:44

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Gatwick Solar System

Gatwick Airport now boasts the UK's first liveside solar system, positioned 150 metres away from the main runway.

Rated at 50 Kilowatts, the solar system is comprised of photovoltaic panels that convert solar energy into electricity. It's been installed by UK group Orta Solar and not only is it a UK first but it represents just one component of Gatwick's wider CO2 reduction programme, which aims to limit the site's contribution to climate change resulting from greenhouse gas emissions.

This should see, in future years, a more extensive Gatwick solar power system put in operation.

Airport Solar Technology
Several issues had to be overcome before this airport solar technology could be put in place. These included ensuring that the system didn't produce potentially dangerous forms of glare or interrupt any of the radar signals transmitted at ground level. To guarantee that the criteria for safe operation were met, both NATS (the National Air Traffic Service) and the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) were consulted.

Gatwick Airport was formerly part of BAA's UK airport portfolio but, in October 2009, was acquired by Global Infrastructure Partners. In recent months, the site's unveiled a host of new features including, in October 2011, a new security upgrade at its South Terminal.

Gatwick Airport Solar System 
The Gatwick Airport solar system programme was kickstarted by Joe Attwood - the site's ex-sustainability delivery leader. "For a long time Gatwick Airport Ltd has been working hard to increase its sustainability and adding 100 per cent carbon free electricity generation into our operations is a positive step", Attwood explained in an Orta Solar press release.

"Although only at the 50kW trial stage at present, the system will save 25 tonnes of CO2 on our operational carbon footprint per annum."

"The system breaks new ground regarding the acceptance of Airport based solar in the UK and all involved have learned a lot regarding challenges & solutions specific to the location", Nick Pascoe - Orta Solar's Managing Director - added. "We're already speaking with other leading airport groups in the UK about bring Solar PV into their operations."

By: Progress On 04:02

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International Centre for Responsible Tourism Backs World Green Tourism, Abu Dhabi Post-Grad Training and Research Center Gives First-of-its-Kind Confex Seal of Approval

The International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT), the post-graduate training and research body of the UK’s Leeds Metropolitan University, has thrown its substantial weight behind World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi, the first-of-its-kind regional confex being held in the UAE capital this December.

ICRT has signed on as an official supporter of the event, being organized by the UAE’s Streamline Marketing Group (SMG).

This is a significant vote of confidence in this international confex which aims to promote sustainable tourism development by influencing the integration of eco-tourism principles into the operations and policies of tourism industry players, a theme which is daily gathering momentum within the Middle East, explained Rick Theobald of SMG.

This agreement will now see the event actively marketed to the center’s extensive global database of companies and individuals who are solidly engaged in sustainable tourism.

ICRT’s Director of Research & International Partnerships, Professor Harold Goodwin is to be a lead speaker at the conference.

Professor Goodwin will share his extensive knowledge of working on four continents with local communities, their governments and the inbound and outbound tourism industry. His research on tourism, local economic development and poverty reduction, conservation and responsible tourism will provide invaluable insights into how tourism can also play a role in the conservation and promotion of local traditions, environments and job creation.

World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi will be held at the state-of-the-art Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre (ADNEC) from December 6-8 and has Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) as its headline sponsor. It is the first meetings industry initiative to emerge from the authority’s Advantage Abu Dhabi (AAD) three-year international incentive program aimed at catalyzing and seeding new business tourism and meetings concepts.

ICRT’s backing and Professor Goodwin’s involvement will greatly assist our industry stakeholders who are now keenly putting sustainability concerns to the fore, said Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director General, ADTA. We are looking to this confex to spur on the “green” debate, explore regional challenges and identify solutions.

For more information on World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi, please log on to: www.worldgreentourism.ae

By: Progress On 23:35

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Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority sets water and waste savings targets to action by end of 2010

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) is spearheading a major campaign to deliver substantial, sector-wide energy, water and waste reduction by the end of 2010.

Under its industry-leading Environmental, Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS) for the emirate?s entire tourism sector, ADTA is targeting 10% energy, 20% water and 20% waste-to-landfill savings over the coming year.

?These ambitious targets are aimed at improving the environmental performance of hotels so that they are in line, if not better than, the world?s greenest hotels,? explained Nasser Al Reyami, ADTA?s Director Tourism Standards.

The initiatives have been rolled out in a series of EHSMS seminars and workshops to help stakeholders, hotels in particularly, kick-start programmes aimed at meeting the 12 month deliverables. The seminars have given delegates an introduction to Abu Dhabi?s tourism sector EHSMS, outlined how organisations can develop an individual entity EHSMS and how to audit it.

?We have received a tremendous response to the initiative with more than 130 representatives from the emirate?s 113 hotels and hotel apartments responding,? explained Al Reyami. ?Participants have been extremely positive about the initiative viewing it as a significant investment in the hotel sector.?

ADTA?s EHSMS is the first in the world developed to encompass an entire tourism sector. ?Traditionally EHSMS has been applied only at entity level,? explained Al Reyami. ?The system covers all environmental, health and safety aspects of hotels, hotel apartments and tourism operators within the emirate and requires each of the entities to develop their own systems.

?The initiative helps fulfil ADTA?s regulatory obligations under the Executive Council?s EHS decree of June 2009 and is essential in helping to achieve the authority?s vision of promoting a globally recognised, outstanding and sustainable tourism destination. In taking this initiative we recognise the authority?s responsibility to the Government and community to ensure the sustainability of the industry we serve.?

ADTA has pledged to support its hospitality sector throughout the entire EHSMS project implementation. ?We will provide subsidised training workshops to help them develop their own systems allowing representatives to attend at nominal rates well below market prices,? said Al Reyami.

?The requirements have a solid business outcome for the entire tourism sector. They will boost standards, lift Abu Dhabi?s appeal as a pleasant and safe place to visit and deliver substantial ROI for accommodation providers as it increases their business,? added Al Reyami.

The EHSMS roll-out has been given an enthusiastic welcome by stakeholders. ?This is a fantastic move that ADTA has started,? said Eva Lowela Moraca of Vision Hotel Apartments.? ?Everyone is now starting to realise the importance of EHSMS. This is a big step for all hotels and tourism sector partners and it is an essential going forward.?
And some participants say EHSMS issues are now coming to the fore through guest enquiries.? ?This training is a big help. In fact there are a number of our guests who express concern for the environment and often they put forward suggestions ? this shows it is an issue and that working together for a better environment can benefit the hotel business,? said Nicole Donato of Platinum Hotel Apartments.

More information on ADTA?s environmental initiatives contact ehs@adta.ae

About ADTA: Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) was established in September 2004.It has wide ranging responsibilities for building and developing the emirate's tourism industry. These include; destination marketing; infrastructure and product development and regulation and classification. A key role is to create synergy in the international promotion of Abu Dhabi through close co-ordination with the emirate's hotels, destination management companies, airlines and other public and private sector travel-related organisations.

By: Progress On 23:24

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Waste audit on wheels

We live in the 21st Century, an age whereby the modern day traveller is somewhat prone to accumulate Airmiles in abundance, whilst leaving a trail of carbon and disposable products in the wake, otherwise known as plain rubbish! Few can truly deny, unless they bury their heads in the sand or have been living in a cave for the past 10 years, that collectively we produce literally tons of waste, much of which upon deeper analysis can be rendered as wholly unnecessary or at least non essential.

There is a growing trend towards an appreciation for the concept of “carbon footprint” especially where travellers are concerned. In essence a carbon footprint is a measure of the impact that our activities have on the environment and in particular related to climate change. It is naturally linked to the amount of greenhouse gases produced by our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc. The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tons (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Budget Airlines such as easyJet now offer the possibility to offset ones carbon flying footprint at the point of booking online. This is indeed an encouraging development. Our sister Blog Hypo Global offers other general suggestions and we welcome input from Perpetual Traveller readers.

Carbon footprint is only part of the picture though, as we have to consider all that waste too! Below you can read some practical ways to apply the same waste reduction and recycling techniques you employ at home on the road.

To coin a sound bite we call it “waste audit on wheels”.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE  

With a little prior planning and a few simple changes to your habits you can make a big difference when travelling.

1) Use up all your sell by date food to avoid wastage before you travel.

2) Stop your paper subscription while you are away.

3) Use electronic tickets whenever possible for plane, train and bus trips as they generate less waste and even cost less to replace.

4) Down size your toiletry items for travel by constantly reusing and refilling small travel bottles (maximum 100 ml) with products you already have, such as mouthwash, shampoo or other necessities.

5) Make the effort to separate your waste wherever possible on the road.

6) Reuse towels at the Hotel and do not be the cause for the Hotel to over-launder them.

7) Try to opt for a green friendly hotel, especially those that recycle.

8) Write all your business travel notes electronically to avoid waste paper.

These are just a few small tips, although if we collectively apply them it could make a difference to our mutual future on earth! In the words of Tesco (UK Supermarket chain) every little helps!

Christina Nikolaou
Guest writer

By: Progress On 14:01

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