Machu Picchu: A Global Reference in Climate Action for Tourism

Machu Picchu Increases Carbon Capture and Reduces Its Carbon Footprint per Tourist by 7.26%, Achieving Its Third Carbon Neutral Certification

Belém do Pará / Cusco, 2025. Machu Picchu, an icon of world heritage, has achieved a 7.26% reduction in its carbon footprint per tourist and a sustained increase in carbon capture, obtaining its third consecutive Carbon Neutral Certification. This milestone consolidates an exemplary model for measuring, reducing, and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating that the decarbonization of tourism is not only possible but also measurable and replicable.

The Carbon Neutral Certification, granted by the international certification body Green Initiative, further strengthens the Historic Sanctuary’s position as a global benchmark for climate action and regenerative tourism.

The recognition reflects four years of work by the Municipality of Machu Picchu, together with the core group formed by Inkaterra, AJE Group, SERNANP, PROMPERÚ, and Tetra Pak, and partners such as CANATUR, Inka Rail, Peru Rail, Belmond, LATAM Airlines, and World Xchange, within the framework of broad multisectoral and international cooperation that included UN Tourism, UN Climate Change (UNFCCC), UNCTAD, the Peru Circular Tourism Initiative, the Consulate of the German Embassy in Peru, and AECID – the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

The ceremony for the third certification was attended by representatives of emblematic destinations of global interest, such as Tikal (Guatemala), the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador), Foz do Iguaçu, Bonito, the Pantanal, and Christ the Redeemer (Brazil), as well as delegations from Belize, UN Tourism, and UNCTAD, with hybrid participation from UN Climate Change.
Also present were representatives from Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR), the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), the Ministry of Culture, PROMPERÚ, and SERNANP, reaffirming Peru’s commitment to climate action in tourism.

Why It Matters Now

Ten years after the Paris Agreement and with COP30 as a historic turning point, Machu Picchu proves that it is possible to move from climate ambition to practical implementation, achieving measurable and transparent results.
The entire process was conducted under a transparent monitoring and reporting system, aligned with the commitments of the Glasgow Declaration for Climate Action in Tourism, an initiative led by UN Tourism that seeks to accelerate the decarbonization of the tourism sector.

The model combines circular economy solutions—such as pyrolysis for biochar, biodiesel production from used oils, and recycling of PET, packaging, and glass—with improvements in sustainable mobility through the use of electric vehicles, maintaining residual emissions compensation mechanisms consistent with international best practices and ecological restoration projects in degraded areas, strengthening the destination’s resilience to climate change.

Results and Trajectory

• Application of international standards: Implementation of methodologies recognized by the GHG Protocol and IPCC Guidelines, including direct and indirect emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3).
• Emission reductions: Between 2019 and 2024, the destination achieved an accumulated 7.26% reduction in its carbon footprint per tourist, a key indicator that demonstrates tangible advances in energy efficiency and decarbonization.
• Carbon capture: The carbon removal indicator reached a total of 5,057 tons of CO₂e captured in 2024, reflecting the positive impact of ecological restoration actions and consolidating an increasingly favorable climate balance.
• Circular economy: Operation of a pyrolysis plant (biochar), biodiesel production from used oils, collection, compaction, and recycling of PET plastics and packaging materials, and reuse of glass in construction.
• Sustainable mobility: Incorporation of electric vehicles in municipal services and waste transportation.
• Compensation: Retirement of high-integrity carbon credits to neutralize residual emissions during the certified period.
• Governance: A multisectoral and multilevel collaboration model integrating local government, private sector, communities, and international partners, with an emphasis on transparency, traceability, and continuous improvement.

An Example for the Future

Machu Picchu thus stands as a living laboratory of climate and tourism innovation, demonstrating that sustainable development is not measured only in numbers, but in the power of

cooperation.

Its example reaffirms that low-carbon tourism is not the future—it is the present that we must build together, through science, commitment, and hope.

Machu Picchu: A Global Reference in Climate Action for Tourism

After consolidating its leadership as the first destination on the planet with a science-based and certified decarbonization process, Machu Picchu is now advancing towards scaling up its experience on two complementary levels:

At the local level, with the launch of the World’s First Carbon Neutral Tourism Corridor, integrating district municipalities from Machu Picchu to Cusco, including Choquequirao, into a collaborative network aimed at reducing emissions, increasing public and private investment, and promoting sustainable mobility and exchange, while adding value to the regional tourism experience in an increasingly inclusive and climate-smart way.

At the international level, with a call to strengthen technical cooperation among emblematic destinations, promoting collaboration between Machu Picchu and other sites such as Angkor Wat (Cambodia) and Petra (Jordan)—with formal cooperation processes already underway—aimed at exchanging best practices to accelerate progress towards the goals of the Glasgow Declaration for Climate Action in Tourism and the Paris Agreement.

Final Inspiration

Machu Picchu confirms that tourism can be a force for regeneration and hope.
When destinations measure, reduce, and restore, the world moves forward.
From the heart of the Andes, Peru shows that climate action is not only declared—it is built, measured, and shared.

Voices of Climate Action and Sustainable Tourism

“From the District Municipality of Machu Picchu, we remain committed to continuously monitoring our carbon footprint and promoting policies that foster a circular and regenerative economy in harmony with nature.” — Elvis La Torre, Mayor of Machu Picchu

“This achievement demonstrates that through public–private and multilateral collaboration we can achieve remarkable results in decarbonizing the economy, moving closer to the climate goals humanity must reach. The certification experience accumulated here—and which we seek to scale across the Americas and worldwide—shows that tourism and climate action can and must

go hand in hand.”
— Gustavo Santos, Regional Director for the Americas, UN Tourism

“Machu Picchu’s leadership, through its Carbon Neutral Certification, highlights the impact of years of work in scientific data collection and the systematization of processes, methodologies, and standards—allowing climate action to be understood and internalized more quickly across society and the economy.” — Daniel Galván Pérez, UN Climate Change

“Machu Picchu not only represents the greatness of our history and culture, but also Peru’s commitment to a sustainable future. Being the first World Cultural Heritage Site to achieve carbon neutrality is a milestone that reflects how tourism can be a positive force for conservation and development. Today, travelers around the world seek experiences that connect with nature and respect the environment; Machu Picchu demonstrates that it is possible to experience cultural heritage in harmony with the planet. This achievement inspires us to continue promoting tourism that protects, values, and transforms.” — María del Sol Velásquez, Director of Tourism Promotion, PROMPERÚ

“The certification of Machu Picchu as a carbon-neutral destination marked a milestone in the environmental management of Peruvian tourism. This achievement opens the opportunity to move toward a more ambitious model, where tourist destinations strengthen their resource efficiency, reduce their carbon footprint, foster innovation, and consolidate the participation of local communities. At MINCETUR, we work to ensure that this example inspires other destinations to advance on the path toward sustainability and resilience, in alignment with the country’s climate commitments.” — Sophia Dávila, Director of the Directorate of Environmental Tourism Affairs, MINCETUR.

“Tourism drives growth in many developing countries, but its future must be sustainable. Machu Picchu’s Carbon Neutral Certification is an example that it is possible to align decarbonization goals with economic development, making the sector a true ally of climate action.” — Claudia Contreras, Economic Affairs Officer, UNCTAD

“For over 45 years, Inkaterra and the Municipality of Machu Picchu have collaborated. This achievement reflects the joint efforts of private organizations, public institutions, and the international community to make tourism a tool for prosperity and sustainability.” — José Koechlin, President and Founder, Inkaterra

“The Carbon Neutral Certification of Machu Picchu, granted by Green Initiative, symbolizes what happens when companies act with purpose. At AJE Group, we reaffirm our commitment to solutions that combine innovation, sustainability, and social well-being.” — Jorge Lopes-Dóriga, Director of Communication and Sustainability, AJE Group

“For BAM, it is an honor to have contributed for the third consecutive year to the certification of Machu Picchu as a carbon-neutral destination, through the emission reductions generated by our REDD+ Castañeros project. This project protects more than 600,000 hectares of unique forests and directly benefits more than 800 families dedicated to conservation. Machu Picchu once again demonstrates its leadership by taking the climate challenge seriously and becoming a tangible example of how Peru can move toward a decarbonized future. We hope that more organizations in our country take this decisive step toward responsible management models, in harmony with our ecosystems and with the urgency that the planet demands.” — Jorge Cantuarias, Founder of BAM

“The third Carbon Neutral recertification of Machu Picchu is living proof that sustainability is a journey—one that advances only when we create value for all. When the right allies come together and the community leads with purpose, everything becomes possible. Circular economy has been a key enabler of this milestone, especially through the segregation of Tetra Pak Liquid Packaging Cartons, which are now given a second life thanks to the commitment of local teams and residents. This is the power of collective action.”— Mónica Yuliana Montes Castaño, Sustainability Manager, Tetra Pak Andina

“Every ecosystem protected and restored in Machu Picchu is a seed of hope in the face of climate change. We reaffirm our commitment to integrating conservation, climate action, and sustainable development.” — José Carlos Nieto Navarrete, Executive President, SERNANP

“The insights shared at Climate Smart confirm that the model implemented in Machu Picchu—now triple Carbon Neutral certified—creates a real opportunity for tourism to advance toward more efficient management, lower impact, and verifiable processes. At Continental Travel, we have embraced this approach in our day-to-day work: supporting companies in moving toward more responsible mobility and promoting practices that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient sector.” — Joelma Galdos, Deputy General Manager at Continental Travel.

“At WorldXchange, we understand the value of tourism for Peru and its people. That’s why we have taken on the responsibility of supporting initiatives that not only highlight the importance of destinations such as Machu Picchu but also provide them with the tools and foundations to remain sustainable over the years. Our support for the certification of Machu Picchu as a Carbon Neutral Wonder of the World seeks to promote conservation and local economic development so that future generations can continue to enjoy these wonders in a sustainable way.”— Raúl Villa, WorldXchange.

“The case of Machu Picchu shows how multisectoral and multilevel collaboration can deliver real results. However, sustaining this progress requires expanding access to climate finance and green infrastructure. This model is already being scaled to emblematic destinations such as Cabo Blanco, Bonito, Christ the Redeemer, and Angkor Wat.” — Tatiana Otaviano, Head of Relationship Management, Green Initiative

Useful links

Machu Picchu Renews Its Carbon Neutral Certification in Support of the Glasgow Declaration https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/news-and-events/news/machu-picchu-renews-its-carbon-neutral-certification-support-glasgow

Machu Picchu: the First Carbon Neutral Wonder of the World – https://www.untourism.int/covid-19-oneplanet-responsible-recovery-initiatives/machu-picchu-world-s-first-carbon-neutral-wonder

Allies & Sponsors – Click here to see.

Media Contact:

Yves van Hemelryck

yhemelryck@greeninitiative.eco

+ 55 (21) 9995325-91