23 Apr 2025

PATA members get a “reality check” on the climate crisis — “Let’s do it for our kids”

The following speech was delivered by Professor Geoffrey Lipman, President of SUNx Malta, at the PATA Annual Summit in Istanbul on 22 April. His main focus was on the impact of the climate crisis, but his “reality check” message applies equally to the broader, multi-sectoral meltdown taking place at a global level.

Prof Lipman, formerly the founding President and CEO of the World Travel Tourism Council, is a long-standing friend and colleague. We were together at both the PATA annual conference in Bali in 1991 and the International Hotel Association annual general assembly in Tel Aviv in November 1995. The downstream impacts of both historic conferences are reverberating systemwide today – neither of them for the better.

Thank you for the invitation to SUNx Malta.

This is a tough intervention I’m afraid.

Not to alarm but inject a reality check.

All the good stuff we are doing individually.

And collectively in organisations like PATA.

That you will hear about throughout this Conference

Becomes meaningless for each degree above 1.5 in 2050 we hit.

And we are already heading for 3-4 degrees – according to the climate scientists.

Yes everyone is making noble pledges for net zero 2050.

While in the real-world increasing emissions year by year.

Talking about Adaptation Plans but resisting the cost and operational change.

This is simply re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.

As the existential climate iceberg gets nearer and nearer.

And now so much oxygen is being sucked out of the room every day.

By the failed tourism guy – failed airline, failed university, failed casino guy (who else could bankrupt a casino).

And despite the media clatter, it’s not his tariffs that are the biggest danger.

Its pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time and screaming drill baby drill.

BUT there is some consolation.

He will not last for ever. No one ever has.

And we must prepare for way beyond the dreadful Trump chaos.

And not get distracted.

The climate crisis will only get worse and the Climate Crisis is a killer.

WE must think long term and act now.

Long term planning is not easy.

Our world and our business is complex and interwoven into almost everything.

BUT we must keep delivering top products & services for the present.

While we shift our mindset and actions for the future.

Simply put – we must walk & chew gum at the same time.

I offer 2 big conclusions.

Conclusion 1

Factor climate adaptation into everything you do today – as if tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of your life.

Do it seriously – as if your kids life depends on it. Because it does.

Don’t make it a clever marketing game.

And remember the Dodo – let’s not become extinct as a species.

It’s not a tourism thing. It’s a humanity thing.

Conclusion 2.

Do it for the next generations – your kids and your grandkids.

Let’s try to forge a better future for them.

With this in mind, we’ve created a dedicated program called Dodo4Kids.

To bring the eXistential message to families with young children.

With fun filled e-books, cartoons and games.

It’s about a dodo brought back from extinction to visit amazing tourism places and help respond to the coalescing climate, sustainability and nature threats.

We have created this to be shared across the tourism world and I’m happy to conclude by announcing that PATA will join us in this endeavour.

To make a cleaner and greener future for our kids.

My last reflection.

I first addressed PATA Annual Assembly in Bali 1991.

We’ve come a long way, baby – through Earth Summits; MDGs and SDGs: Paris: Glasgow & Baku …..

But we’ve still got a long way to go.

Let’s make sure we get there – together

Let’s do it for our kids.