Methodological pathways for measuring tourism carbon footprint: a framework-oriented systematic review

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dc.contributor.authorPousa Unanue, Aitziber
dc.contributor.authorAlzua Sorzabal, Aurkene
dc.contributor.authorFemenia Serra, Francisco
dc.date.accessioned2026-03-16T14:53:39Z
dc.date.available2026-03-16T14:53:39Z
dc.date.issued2026-01-23
dc.date.updated2026-03-16T14:53:39Z
dc.description.abstractTourism is increasingly acknowledged as a major driver of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, efforts to accurately assess its carbon footprint remain hindered by methodological inconsistencies and a reliance on fragmented case studies. This study undertakes a systematic review of 166 peer-reviewed research papers to critically evaluate prevailing approaches for quantifying tourism-related carbon emissions. Leveraging a structured framework encompassing four analytical dimensions and fourteen parameters, the analysis reveals that energy consumption and emission factors constitute the core elements of prevailing models. Nevertheless, only half of the papers account for indirect emissions, and the majority of studies are confined to national or subnational scales, offering limited insight into destination-specific impacts. This methodological heterogeneity undermines the comparability of results and constrains their utility in formulating coherent, evidence-based climate policies. By synthesising these diverse approaches, this review identifies critical methodological gaps, advocates for the harmonisation of best practices, and delineates a roadmap for more robust and context-sensitive carbon accounting within the tourism industry. The insights gained are practical for researchers and policymakers seeking to align tourism development with climate mitigation objectives, thereby fostering greater transparency and efficacy in carbon governance within the sector. Ultimately, such initiatives aim to fortify the sector’s contribution to global decarbonisation efforts.en
dc.identifier.citationPousa-Unanue, A., Alzua-Sorzabal, A., & Femenia-Serra, F. (2026). Methodological pathways for measuring tourism carbon footprint: a framework-oriented systematic review. Climate, 14(2), 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/CLI14020028
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/CLI14020028
dc.identifier.eissn2225-1154
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14454/5480
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherMDPI AG
dc.rights© 2026 by the authors
dc.subject.otherCarbon footprint
dc.subject.otherGreenhouse gas emissions
dc.subject.otherCarbon emissions
dc.subject.otherCalculation methodology
dc.subject.otherClimate change
dc.subject.otherCarbon mitigation strategies
dc.titleMethodological pathways for measuring tourism carbon footprint: a framework-oriented systematic reviewen
dc.typejournal article
oaire.citation.issue2
oaire.citation.startPage28
oaire.citation.titleClimate
oaire.citation.volume14
oaire.licenseConditionhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
oaire.versionVoR
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