"Carbon Footprint"

Climate change is a central challenge for sustainable development. Changes in the global climate system due to warming of the Earth’s atmosphere undermine the life bases of large parts of the population in less developed regions, while in developed areas it is mainly infrastructure and economy that are exposed to such risks. Changing of rainfall and temperature cycles also affect ecosystems, such as forests, agricultural land, mountain regions and oceans, as well as plants, animals and people. Globally, CO2 emissions increased by more than 50% between 1990 and 2012, and the international scientific community has long emphasized the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon management strategies, i.e., addressing climate-altering emissions, can and must be implemented at all levels to ensure climate protection.

The carbon footprint allows to determine the environmental impacts that human activities have on the climate. The parameter represents the amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organisation’s product, service or activity. This is a very important data that allows to estimate the emission performance at the company level and represents the reference value to plan the subsequent carbon management operations. These ones consist of reducing emissions where possible and offsetting the share of residual emissions. In addition, careful business management aimed at reducing the impact on climate is synonymous with environmental quality, an aspect that is increasingly gaining importance.

The undertaken GSTC certification process requires compliance with several environmental sustainability requirements. These ones include the adoption of a carbon management strategy that requires the monitoring and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the activities of our organization. In addition, it is required to implement a tracking system of the consumption of resources and energy. To meet these goals we have developed a monitoring project of resources and energy consumption for accommodation facilities and tourist offices in Val Gardena. The Carbon footprint of each participant in the initiative is calculated starting from the collected data and then the climate impact of the tourist destination is estimated. A simplified methodology seeks to combine precision and operational simplicity with the aim of improving awareness about CO2 emissions and the consumption of resources from tourism-related activities.

CO₂ compensation fund

All accommodation providers in Val Gardena pay a tourist tax to the local tourism association. A percentage of this amount is allocated to a CO₂ compensation fund. In 2024 and 2025, forest clean-up works were commissioned due to damage caused by bark beetles. Here you can find a video of these clean-up works.

The current calculation of the carbon footprint should not be considered exhaustive. The most relevant emission sources have been taken into account where specific data is available, while neglecting other activities that could also contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The sample analyzed consists of a limited number of facilities which may not allow the precise calculation of consumption indicators, making the use of assumptions and approximations necessary.

The organization Dolomites Val Gardena is particularly active in the implementation of mitigation projects of greenhouse gas emissions in its territory. Among the most important recent projects there is the extraordinary maintenance of forest areas affected by bark beetle infestation, spruce pest that can create serious damage to our forests. The interventions consist in the removal of damaged plants and biomass and in the subsequent planting of new tree species contributing to the development of healthy and climate-resilient forests.
In addition, through the mobility centre set up by the organisation, projects that aim to improve the sustainability of mobility in the valley are supported. In summer 2023 and winter 2023/24, two electric-drive buses with zero direct- CO₂ emissions entered service with the aim of developing climate-friendly mobility respectful of the sensitive natural environment of the Dolomites.