Understanding Carbon Emission Mitigation in the New Zealand Accommodation Industry: A Mixed Methods Study
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Authors
Knowsley, Amber
Supervisor
Pernecky, Tomas
Poulston, Jill
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Publisher
Auckland University of Technology
Abstract
The accommodation sector is a key source of greenhouse gas emissions within tourism, and
therefore there is a need to understand emission mitigation in the sector. As there is a
geoscientific consensus that excessive emissions are responsible for climate change,
international efforts towards a low carbon economy need to be realised. The 2015 Paris Climate
Agreement will facilitate efforts by all parties to mitigate carbon, with New Zealand's current target
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. It is suggested
that due to its high energy use, the accommodation sector has excellent potential to lower its
emissions. Previous research in New Zealand on the accommodation industry has not focused
specifically on the mitigation initiatives being undertaken, nor the motivations for doing so.
Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to examine the extent to which carbon emission
mitigation initiatives in the New Zealand accommodation industry are currently being
implemented.
A mixed methods research design, with two sequential phases, was adopted for this study. Phase
One consisted of a national online survey, gathering information on the accommodation industry’s
emission mitigation initiatives and motivations for implementing them. Phase Two undertook a
case study which holistically investigated emission mitigation initiatives, environmental
certification and corporate motivations at New Zealand’s only carbon neutral certified hotel.
Statistical analysis of 566 survey responses reveals that recycling is the most implemented
initiative throughout the industry, with almost all properties undertaking this initiative.
Accommodation categories in the luxury cluster implement more emission mitigation measures
than either mid-range or budget cluster properties. Accommodation providers that hold a
Qualmark™ Enviro award are more likely to implement LED lighting, have a ‘Switch Off’ policy
and provide a towel reuse option, however, they are equally as likely as those who do not hold
the award to recycle and select Energy Star appliances. In addition, analysis shows that some
establishments who hold this award do not actually implement some of the initiatives studied.
Corporate motivations for implementing initiatives indicate that ‘ecological responsiveness’ is
behind recycling; however, the other four main initiatives are reported to be undertaken due to
‘competitiveness’. The case study reveals specific details of environmental sustainability and
mitigation initiatives at New Zealand’s only certified carbon neutral accommodation
establishment. This provides a role model establishment for other accommodation providers to
emulate in a move towards a lower carbon operation. However, it is also suggested that there
were still opportunities for the organisation to further lower its emissions, and capitalise on its
carbon neutral status through marketing and advertising.
Implications of this study showed that there is potential for the New Zealand accommodation
sector to become a role model of environmental sustainability and emission mitigation behaviour,
as the majority of respondents were interested in lowering their carbon emissions further, as well
as currently undertaking initiatives to do so. The results should be of interest to carbon mitigation
businesses such as Enviro-mark, industry stakeholders such as Tourism New Zealand, Qualmark
Enviro and tourists, and government policy makers when considering New Zealand’s 2015 Paris
Climate Agreement targets, as mitigation of emissions will be required from all sectors, including
accommodation.
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Keywords
Accommodation, Climate change, Carbon emissions, Mitigation, New Zealand, Mixed methods