Reconnecting with Nature: The Key to Climate Solutions 🌿

September 2024 Newsletter

Hello Friends,

It is hard to imagine that the leaves are already beginning to change color across the northern and midwestern half of the United States, and the cool breeze of fall is upon us. It feels like just yesterday we were welcoming the joyful, sun-filled days of summer and now the kids are back in school. Here at GLP, we are buckling down for another exciting, jam-packed fall season of filming in two locations, the Oregon Coast and back to the Finger Lakes region of NY state again.

In honor of Climate Week, our September newsletter focuses on nature-based climate solutions, celebrating the vital role of ecosystems in addressing the climate crisis. This month, we feature an insightful article by journalist Kathleen Rellihan who takes us to Mexico’s Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve. There, a pioneering carbon model is helping local landowners protect and regenerate forests. Rellihan’s piece. “Mexico’s Sierra Gorda reminds us our climate stories are missing a reconnection to nature” highlights how reconnecting with nature is essential to reshaping our climate stories, reminding us that true solutions begin when we protect and restore the natural world. 

Mexico’s Sierra Gorda Reminds Us Our Climate Stories Are Missing a Reconnection to Nature

by Kathleen Rellihan

"Our climate stories should be stories of reconnection, stories of when we fell in love with nature again. When we decided we were going to be protectors and defenders." Twenty-two-year-old Mexican climate activist Xiye Bastida suggested this change of narrative at this summer’s Bloomberg Green Festival. The Indigenous climate leader's words explain exactly how I went from being a journalist who covers travel to also being one who covers climate. I fell in love with nature again, and in Mexico, no less.

Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda I.A.P.

LEARN MORE >

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News

GLP’s Rob Holmes shares insights on sustainable tourism in a podcast with Travel Alliance Partnership

Join us on the latest episode of Destination on the Left as podcast host and CEO of Travel Alliance Partnership’s Nicole Manhony digs into the fascinating world of sustainable tourism with our founder, Rob Holmes. In their conversation, Rob shares his passion for rewilding and how it plays a pivotal role in conservation, nature, and increasing biodiversity. Rob also discusses GLP’s mission to help the industry navigate challenges such as over-tourism and climate change, highlighting the significance of sustainability as a fundamental part of an organization's approach. 

Nicole and Rob also discuss how to be strategic with your storytelling in destination marketing and why it’s key to have your team’s buy-in to the central mission and purpose. Rob shares how he creates a passion-driven story that businesses can build their content around. Rob also gives several examples of projects his team has worked on, including rewilding in Chile and the story of improving accessibility on the Oregon coast.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST >

Meet Team GLP

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Events

GLP at Climate Week NYC

GLP Brand Strategist Erika Piik will be attending sessions at The Nest Climate Campus at the Javits Center from September 23rd-25th. 

If there are any great speakers, panel discussions, or programming that Erika should make sure to attend, we welcome all suggestions. Also, Erika is excited to connect with people in person. There's a fantastic rooftop for coffee and lunch chat, so she would love to meet folks and connect over creative climate solutions. Please reach out to Erika at erika@glpfilms.com. 

Erika will also be participating in the panel hosted by Cornell on September 24th: "Panel - From Ideas to Action: Future Directions in Sustainable Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality"

GLP at Adventure Travel World Summit in Panama Oct. 7-10

GLP’s founder and chief strategist, Rob Holmes, and content editor Nicole Melancon will be attending Adventure Travel Trade Association's Adventure Travel World Summit in Panama City, Panama from October 7-10, 2024.

The Adventure Travel World Summit is the biggest event of the year for adventure travel professionals. An estimated 800 tour operators, destination representatives, adventure travel writers, and thought leaders from across the globe gather as one like-minded community to explore travel trends, celebrate milestones, and develop new connections.

If you are attending and would like to connect with Rob during the conference, you can reach out via email at info@glpfilms.com. Nicole will be attending as an official media delegate. If you would like to meet with Nicole, please reach out via the Compass app for meeting scheduling.

Sustainable Snippets

ARTICLES ON CLIMATE

Climate Justice is a Critical Issue for the Tourism Industry

“Climate change is a pressing issue, but its impacts are not felt equally by everyone,” writes authors Bobbie Chew Bigby and Freya Higgins-Desbiolles in this important read on climate justice.

READ MORE >

South Korean Young Climate Activists Score Landmark Victory

South Korean youth advocates win big with climate victory. In Asia’s first-of-its-kind ruling, the Constitutional Court of Korea’ said the South Korean government’s unambitious climate targets are unconstitutional as they fail to protect the rights of future generations.

READ MORE >

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