TOUR 307: Regulating Climate Change Impact from Tourism in Canada

This essay examines the impact of Canadian policies on regulating climate change, specifically focusing on the tourism sector's contribution. It highlights the issue of waste generation, particularly plastic pollution, and the Canadian government's initiatives, such as the Ocean Protection Plan, aimed at mitigating these threats. The essay discusses the integrated approach involving government authorities, private bodies, and the public to promote green practices and sustainable tourism. It concludes that these policies have been successful in reducing plastic waste and enhancing environmental awareness, paving the way for a greener future in Canada. The essay also references Sweden's initiatives toward sustainable change, including their transition away from oil dependence through innovative energy solutions and waste management practices.

Running head: TOURISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Tourism and climate change
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author Note

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Background
The aim of the essay is to analyze the impact of policy in regulating climate change
contributed by tourism. This essay will be highlighting the issue of one of the existing policy
instrument that is contributing in making changes of the reduction of climate change threats. One
of the primary threats to the climatic conditions of Canada are the large number of waste
generated (Čavlek et al., 2019. Plastic pollution and has been one of the primary factors that
Canada is fighting to reduce to a great extent. It has been argued that large amount of waste is
generated every year due to the activity of the primary contributor of the international tourist and
this has led to the government taking multiple steps in this regard. The Trudeau government has
launched multiple policies to deal with the issue of low generation of waste with zero use of
plastic for protecting the environmental health (Let's Talk Transportation, 2019). One of the
crucial factors contributing to the climate change in Canada is plastic pollution which is a result
of the large amount of plastic uses by the tourists. Hence it is imperative to consider some of the
steps taken by the government of Canada to mitigate the threat of climate change due to plastic
pollution.
Policy instrument
In this regard, the government has taken up the certain commitments to deal with the
marine pollution. In 2015; the Canadian government signed an international commitment in the
U.N sustained Development Goals (Canada, 2019). Domestically it has taken up the pledge to
mitigate the harmful impact of plastic in the Canadian beaches and coastal areas. Moreover in
2016, the Trudeau government has launched the new initiative by the name Ocean protection

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Plan. These are aimed at protecting the marine safety standards and enhance the health of the
indigenous population.
Canadian ocean protection plan
Since Canada is a maritime nation and it shares coastlines than other countries of the
world it is the sense of the enhanced responsibility that the environment is protected. Hence the
federal government had decided to spend $1.5 billion for the next five years for the preservation
and protection of the coastal areas (Dfo-mpo.gc.ca, 2019). This is an integrated plan that will
include multiple stakeholders from the government authorities to the private bodies and the
people. This action plan is part of the national legislation to create the marine life safe. This plan
is designed to provide sustainable living for the marine people by developing partnership with
multiple stakeholders. The government has also taken up an attempt to transform the tourism
sector of Canada into green tourism.
Impact on tourism
This policy has been formulated to promote green practices among the indigenous
Canadians and the tourist since it has been observed that the number of plastic polluters is largely
part of the international tourists. This policy initiative at the national level is an integrated
approach aims at creating the tourism sector environmental friendly (Čavlek et al., 2019). This is
further aims at promoting greener practices among the tourists which will ensure safety and
protection of the beaches of Canada. The impacts of this policy is two pronged, one it is aimed at
preservation of the natural environment and preserve the marine life, second, it is aimed at
strengthening the economy of the country by attracting more number of tourists every year

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(Recycling Council of Ontario, 2019). Lastly, it is also expected to restore ad strengthen the
ecosystem and the habitats that are directly impacted by the practices of the people.
Conclusion
Since the environment is one of the crucial parts of tourism, it is important to protect and
preserve the environment by enhancing their awareness towards the protection of environment.
Moreover Canada is a country that has large share of coastline which is one the reasons for the
protection of environment. It is also an imperative question to address as to whether the
environment is being affected by the practices of the indigenous and the international tourists.
However this policy along with the other initiatives taken by the federal government has proved
to be successful since it has been reported that the number of plastics found in the coastal
beaches of Canada have reduced in the recent past. This is not only an initiative for enhancing
the greener practices of the tourists and the people it is also enhancing the awareness of the
people to be nature consciousness and the factors effecting the factors affecting climate change.
Hence it is to be said that Canada is paving the way for a greener future.

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References
Dfo-mpo.gc.ca. (2019). Fisheries and Oceans Canada. [online] Available at: http://www.dfo-
mpo.gc.ca/oceans/publications/cos-soc/index-eng.html [Accessed 8 Mar. 2019].
Canada, E. (2019). On Earth Day, Government of Canada targets plastic waste and marine
litter, with launch of online consultation - Canada.ca. [online] Canada.ca. Available at:
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/news/2018/04/on-earth-day-government-
of-canada-targets-plastic-waste-and-marine-litter-with-launch-of-online-consultation.html
[Accessed 8 Mar. 2019].
Let's Talk Transportation. (2019). Let’s Talk – Oceans Protection Plan. [online] Available at:
https://letstalktransportation.ca/OPP [Accessed 8 Mar. 2019].
Recycling Council of Ontario. (2019). Governments push forward on a Canada-wide zero-
plastic-waste strategy - Recycling Council of Ontario. [online] Available at:
https://rco.on.ca/canada-federal-plastics-strategy/ [Accessed 8 Mar. 2019].
LeitÃ, N. C., & Shahbaz, M. (2016). Economic growth, tourism arrivals and climate
change. Bulletin of Energy Economics (BEE), 4(1), 35-43.
Čavlek, N., Cooper, C., Krajinović, V., Srnec, L., & Zaninović, K. (2019). Destination Climate
Adaptation. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 43(2), 314-322.