How do amusement parks affect the environment

This current theme issue is perhaps one of the first journal issues that specifically focus on theme parks and attractions and their impact on destinations. This final paper highlights emerging conclusions from this theme and offers practical and theoretical implications to the theme park industry. Milman, A.

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Answers to the most commonly asked questions here. Theme parks have a variety of direct and indirect affects on the environment. A theme park contributes air pollution in indirect — but very important — ways. Pollution is first caused by the massive amounts of energy needed to keep the park up and running. Fossil fuels are burned to power the rides and facilities, heat or cool buildings and light the streetlamps that line the sidewalks and pathways of the park.

Even more carbon dioxide emissions are created when excess gasoline is burned in order to transport people to the park, as most theme parks are far from populated areas and can only be reached by car. An attraction that draws in large crowds of people for extended periods of time — especially one that has many concession stands — is bound to create and collect a lot of trash.

Some of the trash can be recycled, but those materials will still need to be sorted and taken to a recycling facility, increasing the consumption of fossil fuels. Trash that cannot be recycled typically ends up in a landfill, where it contributes to global warming by emitting methane, a greenhouse gas, as it decays.

Walt Disney said those words long before the climate emergency became a burning issue. Today Disney is one of the largest entertainment companies in the world. In , Mickey was joined by a acre, megawatt solar facility. With over , panels, it generates enough energy to power two theme parks and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 52, metric tonnes.

Closer to home, PortaVentura World in Spain has announced plans to build an 8. In the UK, Alton Towers are taking simple steps to reduce energy and water consumption, from installing LED lights throughout their site, to using sensor taps and efficient showerheads in their hotels. SolarSplash sends thrillseekers shooting down spiral tubes flowing with water, using energy from a kilowatt solar facility to power its conveyor belt.

Some argue that the very business model is environmentally damaging, with theme parks marketed as glittering destinations and visitors persuaded to make long trips in planes and cars. According to The Guardian , the greenhouse gas emissions from Europeans flying to Disney World in Florida are roughly equivalent to the annual emissions of the population of Ethiopia.

For theme parks, achieving sustainability is going to be a rollercoaster ride.