No time for smokescreen skepticism: a rejoinder to Shani and Arad

C. Michael Hall
,
Bas Amelung
,
Scott Cohen
,
Eke Eijgelaar
,
Stefan Gössling
,
James Higham

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13 Climate Action

Abstract

Shani and Arad (2014) claimed that tourism scholars tend to endorse the most pessimistic assessments regarding climate change, and that anthropogenic climate change was a "fashionable" and "highly controversial scientific topic". This brief rejoinder provides the balance that is missing from such climate change denial and skepticism studies on climate change and tourism. Recent research provides substantial evidence that reports on anthropogenic climate change are accurate, and that human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, including from the tourism industry, play a significant role in climate change. Some positive net effects may be experienced by some destinations in the short-term, but in the long-term all elements of the tourism system will be impacted. The expansion of tourism emissions at a rate greater than efficiency gains means that it is increasingly urgent that the tourism sector acknowledge, accept and respond to climate change. Debate on tourism-related adaptation and mitigation measures is to be encouraged and welcomed. Climate change denial is not.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 341-347

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Tourism Management (Volume 47)

Publication milestones

Accepted/In press - 08/08/2014
Published - 05/10/2014

Publication status

Published - 05/10/2014

ISSN

0261-5177

External Publication IDs

handle.net: 10547/624296
Scopus: 84920115082

Access to documents

10.1016/j.tourman.2014.08.008

Publication metrics

Metrics

Scopus

PlumX, opens in new tab

Captures

139

Usage

Social media