A 2016 survey carried out in the Blue Mountains found more than 80% of respondents said they would choose a business that was making an effort to reduce its carbon footprint over a comparable business that was not participating in such a program. More than 60% of respondents said that they would be more likely to visit a destination that was known for being a low carbon destination.

These results reflect international experience with similar surveys and other destinations that have branded themselves as sustainable tourism destinations. As shown by a recent report by the Center for Responsible Travel, sustainable tourism continues to grow faster than the tourism industry as a whole. Destinations that are able to combine a unique identity with sustainability credentials have emerged as a particularly strong growth sector.

If you would like to join the Low Carbon Living Blue Mountains program and help the Blue Mountains become part of this international growth sector, please contact xxxxxxx.

Low Carbon Living Blue Mountains is also part of a broader network of projects supported by the Cooperative Research Centre for Low-Carbon Living.

The CRC’s objective is to work towards lowering carbon emissions in the built environment while driving competitive advantage for Australian industry. By branding itself as a low-carbon destination, the Blue Mountains has the opportunity to both reduce emissions and gain a competitive advantage as a tourism destination.

To view other resources developed by the CRC for Low-Carbon Living, follow the links below:

Josh’s House – innovative ideas for living sustainably on a typical suburban block

Building Cool Cities for a hot future – redesigning our cities to cope with climate change

Low-Carbon living blog – keep up to date with the latest innovations in tackling climate change