The tiny European mountain nation of Andorra is increasing efforts to protect its environment as the microstate aims for economic growth that is heavily reliant on tourism amid outsized climate change challenges.
With 90 percent of its territory covered by steep slopes, and tourism being its main source of income, Andorra has no space to waste and no room for error. If the snow melts too quickly, or the environment degrades, the country's economy could quickly unravel.
As the tiny country lacks the ability to battle a global challenge like climate change all on its own, currently, Andorra is launching more joint efforts to tackle the issue along with global partners.
"Andorra is not a member of the European Union, but the climate change policies are already aligned with the European Union as well. And we share the same long-term commitment, about the neutrality of carbon to 2050. So Andorra is an active member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UNFCCC, since I think 2011. And we ratified the Paris Agreement in 2015," said David Forne Massoni, Andorran Secretary of State for Energy Transition, Transport and Mobility.
Since one of the real challenges facing Andorra is the sustainable use of space, the country has been making efforts to ensure its tourism can make most use of the country's resources and to build a sector that can receive tourists from across the world throughout the whole year.
"I think Andorra is doing a great job in promoting everything related to sports, especially nature sports like trail running, which has been developing a lot, and hiking. I've discovered this phenomenon. Even though I'm a French, I think Andorra is on the right path in communicating about its tourism, especially eco-tourism," said Jean Luc Dornic, a French tourist.
As Andorra chose to build a coherent and long-term system, rather than isolated fixes, to protect its environment, it has been building facilities to turn waste into energy as part of the country's efforts to pursue sustainable development.
"We export 70 percent of our rubbish into other countries of the EU. And after we manage all 30 percent of rubbish here in Andorra, we have a center of valorization of this rubbish -- and we create energy with this valorization," said Guillem Casal Font, Andorran Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock.
Andorra increases environmental protection effort to boost tourism-driven economy
