Abstract
With the COP26 negotiations taking place amid waves of protest on the streets of Glasgow, and the United Nations reporting 'Code Red' for humanity, world leaders cannot afford to ignore the gravity and urgency of global crises. The same is also true of tourism leaders who face accusations of tinkering and empty promises at a time when fundamental realities demand decisive responses and determined action. In this editorial we argue the need for structural change on a scale that reflects the gravity of the social and environmental crises that confront us, highlighting contributions in this issue that challenge the status quo, and seek to advance paradigmatic change. The 'Code Red' for sustainable tourism will require unprecedented and radical system change. Never has the need for science as a source of evidence and foundation for action been so great. That science must be combined with wide dissemination through a range of communication channels to inform diverse audiences, and the academic activism needed to create urgent positive change.