Purpose The study aims to examine the awareness levels of Generation Z (Gen Z) in the tourism and hospitality sector about climate change and various sustainable tourism initiatives. There is a requirement among Gen Z tourists to understand climate change and its long-term impact on the environment. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, yielding 66 peer-reviewed papers published between 2015 and 2025. The review applied thematic analysis to reveal salient patterns and the Antecedents–Decisions–Outcomes (ADO) model to synthesise results into 12 theoretical propositions. The Theory–Context–Characteristics–Methodology (TCCM) model was then used to highlight research gaps and develop a potential research agenda. Findings Four strong themes emerged in the synthesis: (1) pro-environmental behaviour, (2) sustainable tourism education, (3) tourism as an agent of social transformation and (4) green consumerism. Their research reveals the impact of nature-based concepts, emotional factors such as pride, guilt and flight shame, non-material influences such as social media and peer networks, as well as eco-focused education, on the combination of these elements, leading to the determination of Gen Z choices in environmentally friendly tourism. In particular, it was found that these topics form a circular system in which consciousness, conduct and self-perception mutually reinforce one another. Practical implications The results are beneficial to industry professionals, tourism policymakers and teachers in crafting interventions, educational programs and tourism experiences attuned to the environmental values of Gen Z. This alignment will ensure the progress of sustainable tourism while supporting the achievement of the goals in the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). Originality/value The novelty of this research lies in integrating ADO and TCCM into a two-framework setting. The latter framework supports the harmonisation of conflicting intuitions while providing a systematic way for theoretical innovation, methodological contribution and cross-cultural analysis. The following twelve propositions form an unusual conceptual framework that explains how Gen Z's awareness of environmental problems translates into sustainable tourism behaviour, positioning them both as consumers and sustainability advocates.
Mukherjee et al. (Tue,) studied this question.