What is COP29?

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the world’s foremost platform for addressing climate change's urgent and complex challenges. Each year, it brings together governments, businesses, civil society, and international organizations to forge pathways toward a sustainable future. COP29, hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan, marks a milestone by elevating critical sectors to the forefront of the climate agenda.

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Tourism Day at COP29

For the first time, tourism has been formally included in the COP agenda—a powerful recognition of its role in the global climate dialogue. November 20, 2024, marked a historic moment with the launch of the COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism. This initiative sets the tourism sector on a transformative path, aligning it with global sustainability goals and showcasing its potential to drive meaningful climate action. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, captured the sector's potential, stating:

“By prioritizing innovation, decarbonization, and regeneration, we can make sure tourism plays a key role in global climate solutions. Beyond its role as an economic lifeline for communities, tourism is uniquely positioned to be a powerful catalyst for sustainable, climate-resilient development.”

This inclusion underscores the need for a data-driven approach to integrate sustainability into tourism policy and practices. The adoption of the UN Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (MST) is a key step in this direction. By incorporating environmental data such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and resource use into tourism metrics, the MST framework enables informed decision-making and measurable progress toward climate goals.

When I reflect on the importance of the Conference of Parties (COP), I’m reminded that it is not just a gathering, it’s a catalyst for global change. COP serves as the beating heart of international climate action, where governments, industries, and stakeholders convene to align on solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

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Digitalization in Climate Change

Recognizing the transformative power of technology, COP29 also introduced its inaugural Digitalization Day. This landmark event emphasized the role of digital tools in reducing emissions, strengthening climate resilience, and advancing sustainable development across all sectors. The COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action, endorsed by over 90 governments and1,000 digital leaders, reflects a shared commitment to leveraging technology for climate solutions.

Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President, highlighted this pivotal shift:

“The first-ever Digitalization Day at COP29 marks a new chapter in climate action, embedding digital technology as a transformative tool. From artificial intelligence in climate modelling to optimizing renewable energy systems, digital advancements are key to accelerating sustainable solutions on a global scale.”

This digital transformation is particularly vital for the tourism sector, where accurate and standardized data can guide impactful strategies.

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Digitizing sustainability reporting

For us at BeCause, this sentiment isn’t just theoretical; it’s our daily mission. We work tirelessly to create a thriving data ecosystem where businesses and communities alike can access a single source of truth. By digitizing sustainability reporting, tourism stakeholders can make better-informed decisions, adopt climate-positive practices, and build resilient business models. Our SaaS platform is designed to ensure that sustainable choices flow seamlessly through tourism and beyond—for the planet, people, and profits to thrive.

This intersection of technology and sustainability has never been more urgent. Digital tools like AI and big data have the potential to optimize renewable energy systems, improve climate modeling, and make sustainability accessible to more people. Yet, as a tech community, we must remain accountable for the environmental footprint of our digital advancements.

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Sustainable hospitality’s milestone: Universal sustainability KPIs

A major highlight of COP29 was the launch of the Universal Sustainability Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) by the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA). A proud partner of ours. During the first-ever joint session of Tourism Ministers and the COP Presidency, this initiative was hailed as a transformative step for the hospitality industry.

These KPIs provide standardized, verifiable metrics for assessing sustainability performance across the sector. The first wave focuses on Environmental KPIs, including:

• GHG emissions: Total CO2 emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3.
• Water consumption: Usage intensity per guest night or occupied room.
• Energy usage: Energy intensity and renewable energy share.
• Waste management: Percentage of waste diverted from landfills.

This framework, developed through collaborative efforts with industry leaders and global organizations, represents a commitment to measurable climate action. Future waves will introduce Social and Governance metrics, creating a comprehensive ESG performance system.

Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of WSHA, emphasized its importance:

“The launch of the Universal KPIs empowers our industry to take measurable actions against climate change while ensuring accountability to consumers who increasingly demand trust and transparency.”

From my perspective, this development couldn’t have come at a better time. The hospitality sector has immense potential to influence sustainable consumer choices. By adopting these KPIs, hotels not only improve operational efficiency but also build trust with eco-conscious travelers and corporate clients.

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Methodology behind the Universal Sustainability KPIs

The methodology behind the Universal KPIs developed through benchmarking, stakeholder engagement, and validation reflects the importance of collaboration. This collective effort sets a precedent for other industries to establish their own standardization efforts for sustainability.

At BeCause, we celebrate this progress and stand ready to support the hospitality sector in implementing these frameworks. Our platform simplifies data collection, standardizes reporting, and ensures that information is verifiable and actionable. This transparency is essential for fostering trust among consumers, investors, and regulators.

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WSHA’s commitment to enabling sustainable choices for tourism

The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA) is not only focused on launching Universal Sustainability KPIs but also on ensuring that the hospitality sector remains aligned with global climate goals. In partnership with UN Tourism and other key collaborators, the Alliance is updating the Hotel Carbon Measurement Tool to adhere to the GHG Protocol, expanding Scope 3 emissions tracking, and establishing robust data verification processes. This forward-looking approach paves the way for responsible tourism and reinforces the Alliance’s dedication as a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration and the COP29 Baku Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism. As global leaders come together to tackle pressing climate issues, the Universal KPIs represent a proactive framework that supports climate action, drives economic value, and aligns with consumer expectations.

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Supporting sustainability efforts in tourism

As a Chief Sustainability Officer, I see these developments as a powerful reminder of how standardization can drive meaningful change. When businesses are equipped with the right tools, they not only meet their sustainability goals but inspire others to follow suit. At BeCause, we recognize the vital role of digitization in achieving the goals set by COP29 and WSHA. As members of WSHA, we have already digitized critical supportive tools used in the hospitality industry, including the Hotel  Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI) and the Hotel Water Measurement Initiative (HWMI), ensuring that these tools remain accessible and effective in driving sustainable change. We are following closely all new releases and developments to continue supporting the hospitality sector in its sustainability journey.

Our SaaS platform helps accelerate this transition by:

• Centralizing data: Offering a unified, trustworthy data ecosystem to enable accurate tracking and reporting.
• Enhancing transparency: Providing tools for standardized metrics that align with global ESG frameworks.
• Driving sustainability: Empowering businesses and consumers to make informed, sustainable choices.

The synergy between digital transformation and standardized sustainability metrics, as demonstrated by WSHA’s Universal KPIs, is at the heart of our mission: to help sustainable choices flow seamlessly through tourism and beyond ensuring the planet, people, and profits can thrive together.

Toward COP30 and beyond: Uniting tourism and technology for a sustainable future

A COP29 reflection

As global leaders gather at COP29 to address climate challenges, the inclusion of tourism and the advancements in digitalization mark a turning point for actionable progress. Initiatives like the UN Statistical Framework, Green Digital Action, and Universal Sustainability KPIs reflect a collective commitment to creating a sustainable, climate-resilient future. These efforts underscore the power of collaboration and innovation in driving meaningful climate action across sectors.

Following the discussions at COP29, I feel inspired and energized by the outcomes of this year’s conference. It has reinforced that no single sector or technology can address the climate crisis alone. Tourism, technology, and hospitality each play a vital role, but their true power lies in collaboration and collective action. By leveraging innovative tools and collaborative frameworks, we can empower industries, nations, and communities to meet the demands of today while safeguarding the needs of tomorrow.

At BeCause, we remain committed to playing our part in this transformative journey, enabling meaningful action through technology and data. We are proud to be part of this movement, working at the intersection of sustainability and technology to empower stakeholders with the tools they need to drive change. Whether through digitized reporting, standardized KPIs, strengthening climate resilience, or innovative climate solutions, our mission remains clear: to create a world where sustainability is not just an aspiration but a reality.

As we look ahead to COP30, I am filled with hope. The path is challenging, but with determination, innovation, and collaboration, we can —and will—achieve a more sustainable future.

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