Hotels4Climate

Tourism represents one of the most important economic sectors for both Greece and Cyprus. This leads to higher energy demand and thus growing GHG emissions by the hotel industry. Although many accommodation providers have turned their attention towards GHG emission reduction, tourism accommodations, especially small and medium, remain with high potential for GHG emissions reduction. One important barrier is the lack of capacity in the hotel sector. Thus, the project aims to support these with relevant knowledge products.

By reducing GHG emissions caused by the hotel industry, the project contributes to the Cypriot and Greek national climate objectives to reduce GHG emissions in the non-ETS sectors by 24 and 16 per cent, respectively.

The project aims to reduce GHG emissions caused by the hotel industry, focusing in particular on Cyprus and Greece. It does so through building capacity, raising awareness, and improving competences regarding saving potentials and suitable GHG reduction measures, as well as through facilitation of knowledge exchange and networking between the hotel and the finance sectors.

Over 23 months, the project includes seven measures to reduce GHG emissions in the long term. First, it promotes sustainable tourism. Second, it fosters cooperation opportunities between hotels and the financial sector. Third, it analyzes the characteristics of the hotel sector in Cyprus and Greece through structured interviews and summarizes the findings in a report. Fourth, it identifies and shares 40 best practice models from Cyprus, Greece, and Germany. Fifth, it raises awareness on the necessity and potential for GHG reduction through best practice workshops, capacity building, networking events, and three study visits in Cyprus, Greece, and Germany. Sixth, it provides access to knowledge products and showcases of best practices through an online information hub and a web-based tool for calculation and assessment of GHG emission reduction potential. Last, it encourages dialogues between the key actors and creates a common understanding of the importance of saving GHG as part of a green, sustainable tourism industry.

The objectives of the project are to be achieved through capacity-building measures, the transfer of skills and raising awareness of the potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Photo: ©OEB

• Cross-sector and cross-border exchange: Between 2019 and 2021, a German-Polish network for the further development of electromobility was established, bringing together representatives from politics, business, science and civil society on a permanent basis for the first time. A total of 200 people took part in several meetings and workshops. The network continues to act as a bridge between national and municipal decision-makers as well as business and industry organisations and has made a significant contribution to making barriers to the expansion of electromobility visible and breaking them down. 
• Regional impact in the Visegrád states: The project strengthened cooperation on electromobility in the Visegrád countries (V4). A study on the status and prospects of electromobility prepared as part of the project was presented to ministerial working groups in the V4 countries and served as a technical basis for discussions on regional strategies. At the suggestion of the then Polish Minister for Climate and Environment, Michał Kurtyka (term of office 2019-2021), the results were presented at the final meeting of the Polish V4 presidency - an important step in bringing electromobility into the political focus of the region. 
• Education and transparency: The Polish Electro Mobility Map is the first interactive nationwide tool with monthly updated data on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. It made current developments visible and comprehensible to the public for the first time. After the project was completed, the tool was continued by the Polish Association for Alternative Fuels - an indication that the information provided is considered reliable, necessary and institutionally relevant. 
• Political basis for decision-making: The project results improved the planning and decision-making basis for Polish decision-makers, particularly in the area of grid expansion. The Forum Energii study was used in the project analyses scenarios for electromobility development and their impact on the Polish distribution grids. It shows that the costs for grid adjustments are manageable and that CO₂ emissions and electricity demand can be reduced in parallel. These findings provide a concrete basis for investments in distribution grids and for the combined planning of charging infrastructure and photovoltaics.