Partnershipfor regional sustainable (tourism) development

Round table discussion seminar

Tourism – chances and challenges, Sustainability and CompetitivenessNordic House, Reykjavík Feb 15th 2008

Stefán GíslasonMSc Environmental Management and PolciyEnvironice, Borgarnes, Icelandwww.environice.isstefan@environice.is

Contents

Summary

Background

Historical...

A little bit on Green Globe

Monitoring and data

Industry’s opinions

Did they succeed?

Summary Three regions in Iceland have decided to head for a full

international certification according to the Green Globe standard for communities.

As an example, 5 municipalities on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in western Iceland have been co-operating on this since 2002, and are awaiting a certification audit in April. If successful, the region will be the first certified in the northern hemisphere!

To gain this, the local governments have entered into partnership with the regional industries, especially the tourism industry, to develop the whole region towards sustainability. This is a prerequisite for the certification.

Background

Snæfellsnes: 90 km long, 1,474 km2 (1.4% of Iceland’a land area)

A line of mountains with Snæfellsjökul glacier (1,446 m) furthest to the west as a symbol (“Centre of the Earth”)

A rich diversity – Snæfellsjökul National Park

Five municipalities with a total of some4.000 inhabitants = Tre “big” fishingvillages (ca. 3x1.000 inh.) + farms

Industry: Fishing, agriculture, tourism

“Historical” background1998) The municipality of Snæfellsbær starts working with

Local Agenda 21.

2000) The local government approves a Local Agenda 21 action plan => finds out that the municpality cannot do a lot without co-operation with the industries and the neighbouring communities.

2002) Autumn: The municipality of Snæfellsbær invites the neighbouring municiplities to partnership regarding Green Globecertification.

2003) Spring: Five local governments (the whole peninsula) sign an agreement to seek a common Green Globe certification.

Autumn: The launch of the project, a steering group established with representatives from the local gvmts. (with links to the industries), the national park and some national gvmtl. institutions (Road admin., power company, tourist council)

2004) Autumn: “Benchmarking” achieved(WTM, London, 10-nov-2004)

2005) 2006) 2007) Benchmarking renewed

2008) April: Full certification?

“Historical” background (cont.)

What is GREEN GLOBE ? Based on Agenda 21. The tourism industry’s response

to the challenges of the Rio summit 1992 Formally established by WTTC – (World Travel

and Tourism Council) 1994 Originally based on membership Independent certification scheme since 1999 (the

world’s only global certification scheme for sustainability)

The first GREEN GLOBE standard for tourism companies published in 1999

A GREEN GLOBE standard for communities presented late in 2002

A new standard for communites 2003 and companies 2005/2006

Headquartes in Australia since 2003

Why GREEN GLOBE?

International recognition

The only certification scheme for communities

Certifies all sectors of tourism

Co-operation with universities (a strong prof. back-up)

Emphasis on local resources (goods/services/labour)

Based on Agenda 21 and sustainable development

From the standard

The outcome is […] a more sustainable Community where the Tourism industry and other sectors are actively underpinning sustainable outcomes.

The Community Standard recognizes the benefits of a community working together to achieve sustainable outcomes. It requires a Community Authority to provide leadership

The Standard is designed to empower local communities and to build on local initiatives.

It deals with environmental regeneration and environmental improvement as well as the conservation of existing heritage assets.

The GREEN GLOBE 21 Community Authority shall:

3.6 Have a commitment to individualize environmental and socially sustainable performance accountability to companies, community members and authorities within the Community.

3.9 Have a commitment to give preference to employment, products and services of local community origin.

From the standard

The GREEN GLOBE 21 Community Authority shall:

5.8 Have regard to the following considerations in developing Community Benchmarking supplementary performance indicators:§ Giving preference to locally produced goods and services§ Encouraging local employment§ Encouraging industry reinvestment in the local community§ Minimizing leakage of locally generated revenue§ Stimulating local micro-businesses

6.1.7 Encourage Community stakeholders to engage in the Community Authority’s environmental and social programmes.

From the standard

Regional indicators

Presentation of results

Every indicator annually compared to GG “Benchmarks”

Should be above “Baseline”

+ continuous improvement

Example -> -> -> ->

“Best Practice”“Baseline”

A Comment

“Three years ago I would have said that all this talking about sustainability was nothing for my company, but just some meaningless costly requirements. But, just operating the company within a community with this positive kind of sustainability profile, has really improved my company’s image among the customers. It’s a privilege from a marketing point of view to have the opportunity to participate in this development”.

Ólafur Rögnvaldsson, CEO of the region’s largest fish industry

More regions

Two more regions have already started to prepare for Green Globe certification (with Snæfellsnes as a role model)

Álftanes (south of Reykjavík)

Iceland South Central

Still two more are in the early phase, awaiting a formal approval from leading authorities

Have they succeeded? Have they succeeded in estabishing a active

partnership between local authorities and the industries for increased sustainability and in creating new opportunities for regional development?

The work just started

There are no absolute indicators/measurements

But the base has been built at least!

Conclusion The regional work at Snæfellsnes is an example of how

the industrial development can be managed on a local or a regional level and guided towards sustainability, in order to create new opportunities for regional development

As the ”Green Globe Community Standard” demands an active co-operation between the authorities and the industries, it has the potential to function as a tool/guideline for local/regional co-operation towards sustainability

This opens up for new opportunities for a common marketing ofthe whole region