Sustainability in tourism is booming – industry and guests go the extra mile in climate protection

In times, where a rethinking of customer behaviour is taking place and everyone is talking about flight shame, the tourist industry is thinking more and more about environment- and climate-friendly tourist offerings. Offsetting of unavoidable CO2 emissions is one of these approaches – especially when it comes to international travel. Thanks to innovations like myclimate’s "Cause We Care", there’s also a focus on local sustainability measures that have a direct impact on local tourism. Get involved in making these decisions now and win great prizes.

Sustainably renovated Youth Hostel in Bern.

For over 15 years, myclimate has been promoting tangible solutions in areas such as tourism, transport and climate protection. Many of these products, such as a simplified corporate carbon footprint for hotels, have been designed to meet the needs of national and international tourism providers. myclimate has for many years been working with familiar companies such as DER Touristik (formerly known as Kuoni), Hotelplan Suisse, the Lufthansa Group and Hostelling International. myclimate has also recently developed "Shape Your Trip" – an activation and awareness programme with a focus on sustainable travel.

Beyond this, myclimate is offering tourism service providers in Switzerland a specific offer for working together with their guests to drive climate protection forward both locally and worldwide via the "Cause We Care" initiative. myclimate’s "Cause We Care" is currently in an intense growth phase. Around 50 Swiss partner operations now belong to the network of responsible tourist providers – the increase is spectacular.

 

What is special about the "Cause We Care" initiative?

It’s all in the name: tourism organisations and holidaymakers want to take responsibility, and they want to do it together. The initiative offers them a framework: during booking, guests have the option to make a voluntary contribution to climate protection and sustainability. And the "Cause We Care" partners in turn commit to doubling the guests' donations. The added-up contributions are then paid into a company-specific, ring-fenced "Cause We Care" fund. This fund is then used both to offset all unavoidable CO2 emissions via myclimate carbon offset projects and to support local carbon offset projects.

 

What kind of local projects are being launched?

myclimate helps partner businesses to get their own activities set up. Based on the specified "Cause We Care" goals, myclimate ensures that climate and environmental protection is being actively promoted in the company and its surroundings.

Three examples of local activities:

 

Culture Bus in Val Müstair

Getting to cultural events easily and in a climate-friendly way with public transport instead of the car – in 2018, the nature park Biosfera Val Müstair and cultural organisations in Val Müstair brought the Culture Bus to life. The bus gets people home from cultural events safely and in an environmentally friendly way via public transport – even late in the evening. People can feel free to leave the car at home. Thanks to the support from the Engadin Samnaun Val Müstair destination "Cause We Care" fund, the bus was also able to operate throughout 2019.

 

Pizol wind turbine produces renewable energy

A turbine has recently begun bringing fresh wind to the Pizol cableways valley station in Bad Ragaz. The innovative and current-optimised wind turbine will make it possible for the mountain railway to find a solution to the energy revolution in its own backyard and use clean wind energy to its advantage.

 

E-charging stations and green electricity for guests

Swiss Youth Hostels have, as part of the renovation and extension of their Bernese premises, installed two charging stations for electric vehicles alongside a photovoltaic system on the roof. Thanks to the photovoltaic system, the company can itself produce around a fifth of the electricity it consumes. Guests now have the option of climate-friendly electric travel to and from the hotel.

 

Competition

Help us decide which other local activities should be launched with tourist organisations as part of the current "Cause We Care" campaign. Vote now and win amazing prizes!

www.causewecare.ch/wettbewerb

Stay informed!