Securing Sustainable Tourism: Children's Rights and Adults' Responsibilities

Abstract

Recent years have seen growing concern about the climate crisis. Lack of adequate attention on this issue from governments and industries has prompted social movements against climate change. Youth activism has been particularly effective at advancing the cause, especially campaign work by children, most notably Greta Thunberg. The tourism industry impacts global carbon emissions, particularly due to international travel. Sustainable tourism is therefore becoming increasingly important in order to help respond to the climate crisis and protect the individual rights of citizens, including children. Children have unique and important insights to offer, yet they are in a democratically weak position given that they cannot vote and are often wholly reliant on others to represent their interests. However, when we allow children to occupy legal and political spaces and support them with participatory democracy, such as through supporting the child's right to protest or supporting strategic litigation, significant progress can be made for climate justice and a more sustainable future. Adults have a responsibility to respond positively to the work of youth activists to help nurture and encourage the environmentally conscious attitudes of children into adulthood.

Citation

Nottingham, E. (2022), "Securing Sustainable Tourism: Children's Rights and Adults' Responsibilities", Séraphin, H. (Ed.) Children in Sustainable and Responsible Tourism, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 159-170. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-656-920221012