Introduction
In Ghana, tourism contributes significantly to the local economy and brought in $981 million, approximately 6.5 percent to the country’s gross domestic product, in 2007. Ghana’s infamous history as a former slave colony has been successfully marketed abroad and has attracted a steady flow of tourists to the country. Many, especially African-Americans, head to the former slave forts on the coast of Ghana searching for their heritage. However, Ghana is confronted with the effects of climate change that translate into the degradation of the coastline and the subsequent destruction of beaches, homes and its historical tourist attractions.
Original article: “Drowning villages threaten Ghana’s history and tourist trade” by Emily Bowers – published at www.Bloomberg.com at May 21st, 2008
Essay by Florian Zielke
Master in Tourism Destination Management student 2008/2009
Climate change is a global phenomenon. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) calculated hat the global temperature has increased by about 0.6°C (±0.2°C) since 1861 and that the global average sea level has risen between 10 and 20 cm in the course of the twentieth century (Viner&Nicholls, 2006). As a consequence the snow cover and the ice shelves, which naturally reflect radiation and prevent warming of the Earth, are on the retreat and thereby accelerate the global warming process even further. It is estimated the global average temperature and sea level will continue to rise with drastic impacts on the global climate and ecosystems worldwide. The effects of climate change can already be noticed: extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, hurricanes, etc, have increased in frequency and intensity; coral reefs have been subject to bleaching; and rare and highly specialised species are either threatened by extinction or have already disappeared.
The global warming phenomena can be attributed to natural and anthropogenic factors. In particular, humans have contributed to the drastic increase in greenhouse gases (Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide and Ozone) in the atmosphere since the beginning of the industrialisation in the 1900s. Burning of fossil fuels, raising of cattle and deforestation have induced a rising concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (Peeters, 2008). An accumulation of these gases is problematic due to their particular nature of trapping energy rich short wave solar radiation in the atmosphere and therefore heating up the Earth.
Besides production industries and agriculture also tourism is a major contributor to climate change due to the very nature of moving people from one place to another. Most modes of transportation imply the use of fossil fuels which contribute to global warming. In particular, car and air traffic can be pinpointed in this respect. Considering the impressive figure of about 800 million international trips that have been made in 2007, one can grasp what impact tourism has on the atmosphere and consequently the high degree of influence on global climate change.
Ironically, tourism is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Most destinations rely on their natural assets for attracting tourists by making use of their beautiful landscapes, coral reefs and beaches. These destinations will face major difficulties as a result of the harsh effects of climate change. Islands such as Sylt in the Baltic Sea and Tuvalu in the Pacific Ocean are expected to be among the first tourist destinations that will be swallowed by the sea.
Also in North-Western Africa, the sea claims slowly but steadily the coastline. On Ghana’s southern coast the local government is faced with this issue of a retreating coastline (1 to 3 metres annually). Currently, it is feared that 22 settlements and an additional number of historical remnants such as former slave forts will be swallowed by the sea over the next few years. Other settlements have already been washed into the sea and local people had to move land inwards. Beside the personal tragedy for the local people this development signifies also a serious threat to the country’s heritage tourism sector. It is planned by the government to build a barrier of concrete boulders to protect the coastline and prevent a further advancement of the sea. However, till then the sea will claim its share.
It is worrisome to see our planet changing so dramatically and the speed of change makes me wonder how life on planet Earth will look like in 2050. Will our continents be sink into the ocean such as in Ghana? Will the expected water stress in certain parts of the world result in wars over resources? Will there be any of the magnificent coral reefs and rare bird species left to admire? Most of the developed countries have not managed to cut down their greenhouse gas emissions and it seems unlikely that this will happen in the future. Also the tourism industry has shown little motivation to reduce its impacts and has only focused on trimming down fuel consumption of their transport carriers. As the supply sector fails to address the issue sufficiently it seems like it is up to the tourists to do their share and make decisions that are more environmentally sustainable.
Reference:
Viner, D. & Nicholls, S. (unknown) Climate change and its implications for international tourism. Published in Buhalis, D. and Costa C. (2006). Tourism management dynamics: trends, management and tools. Elsevier, Oxford.
Peeters, P. (2008). Tourism and global environmental change (GEC). Lecture
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