Sitges is working towards sustainability and progress in measures to adapt to climate change. Faced with these challenges, the town is launching a decarbonisation programme for companies in the tourist sector, included in the “Energy Efficiency” area of the Destination Tourism Sustainability Plans (DTSP).

The goals of the programme include raising awareness among businesses about the carbon footprint of their activity; cutting the environmental impact of local tourist companies by reducing carbon dioxide emissions; fostering sustainable practices within the tourist sector; increasing the appeal of Sitges as a sustainable tourist destination and adhering to the Glasgow Declaration as a town council.

As part of its Decarbonisation Programme for companies in the tourist sector, Sitges is organising an information day with local tourist companies to raise awareness on the importance of decarbonisation and getting them to adhere to the programme. For each of the companies to adhere, an energy audit will be conducted to assess their CO₂ emissions and identify areas with a strong potential for carbon reduction. This way companies will get an analysis and a proposal for improvements.

A face-to-face training day is also being contemplated for participating companies, with information on sustainable practices, plus an awareness campaign for tourists about how they can help reduce the environmental impact during their stay.

Turisme de Sitges is heading the project as part of its strategic plan, carrying on in the same direction after the town gained certification as a Biosphere destination in 2016, awarded to sustainable, environmentally friendly, social and cultural destinations and governance. The town went on to gain the Biosphere Gold certificate in 2022, resulting from cross-cutting work in conjunction with the private sector. According to the Councillor for Tourism, Xavi Ripoll, “the DTSP offers us a great opportunity to strengthen our collaboration with the private sector. In this case, the decarbonisation programme not only enables us to make progress in becoming a more sustainable destination from an economic and environmental point of view, but also helps to improve the quality of life of local residents. Ultimately, it’s about making Sitges not only a better place to visit, but a better place to live in”.

Monday’s session by the local government commission approved the procurement plan for the services to implement the decarbonisation plan for companies in the tourist sector in Sitges. The contract is part of the project “Sitges, sustainable, competitive, inclusive and smart tourist destination” by the Town Council, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan - EU Next Generation, corresponding specifically to area two “Improvement of energy efficiency” of the DTSP.