The global travel and tourism sector makes up 10% of global GDP and Europeans are the most active international tourists. Nature-based tourism is growing rapidly. Simultaneously, the global tourism industry contributes almost 8% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, making the sustainability of tourism an increasing concern. Despite international calls to decarbonize the tourism sector by 2050, little is known about the carbon footprint of nature-based travels. FOOTPRINTS aims 1) to harness digital footprints to understand the patterns of NBT globally, 2) to predict patterns of NBT in climate compatible futures, and 3) to estimate the impacts of changing NBT patterns in three study areas. FOOTPRINTS will empower the international nature conservation initiatives and net-zero carbon policies. It will provide critical knowledge on potential scenarios to reach climate compatible future and their previously unstudied impacts, empowering also local actors for preparedness.

2025

2029