Sustainable Tourism Law

SUSTAINABILITY: THE PATH FROM STOCKHOLM TO THE EUROPEAN CHARTER 625 give new attention to the environmental policy 13 , complying with the following principles: • A global and constructive approach addressed to the different agents and activities related to natural resources or those that affect the environment; • Reversing the tendencies and practices that affect current and future generations; • Promoting social behavioural changes by striking compromises among the stakeholders; • Allocation of responsibilities; • Using new environmental instruments; For the programme, as far as the environment is concerned, the focus should be the integration of the five priority areas 14 : industry, energy, transports, agriculture and tourism. Considered as barometers for human health, seven themes were covered in detail: climate change, air pollution, loss of natural resources and biodiversity, depletion and contamination of water resources, deterioration of coastal zones, waste, urban environment and noise. Concerning energy, the improvement of energy efficiency by reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and investing in renewable ones should be highlighted. Regarding transports, besides the improvement of the public network, the adoption of measures to improve infrastructural management and fuel quality were also promoted. Measures were proposed to improve the management and quality of services in tourism , as well as the creation of alternatives through campaigns to raise awareness. The evaluation of the Fifth Programme is included on the document “Communication from the Commission – Europe’s environment: What directions for the future? The global assessment of the European community 13 The recognition that environmental law is a necessary condition but not enough for an environmental improvement. 14 In 1992 the importance of the integration of the sectors was identified and the programme followed that line. The integration of the sectors proceeded on the Luxembourg Summit in December 1997. With the aim of developing the resolutions of the Amsterdam Treaty, it was established that all the environmental protection requirements should be integrated with all the political decisions and actions taken by the European Community, with the aim of reaching a sustainable development. In the Cardiff Summit, in June 1998, the Commission presented the communication “Strategy for the environment integration in the European Community politics” as one of the primary objectives along with the Agenda 2000 and the Kyoto Protocol.