The system involves the reduction of all six major greenhouse gases (GHG) and supports global offset projects. Projects range from forestry carbon, ozone destruction, renewable energy, agriculture and mining. Since inception in 2003, the member list has grown to include New Mexico (first state to join in 2005), DuPont, Ford Motor Company, New Belgium Brewing Company, Sony Electronics, Bank of America and more. The Exchange expanded to the European market in 2005, with the European Climate Exchange now operating as the leading exchange in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

CCX and other carbon-based schemes provide great opportunities for companies to stay competitive, build international reputations, be more sustainable and become familiar with the newest form of currency  - carbon.

“As long as there is poverty in the world I can never be rich, even if I have a million dollars. As long as diseases are rampant and millions of people in this world cannot expect to live more than twenty-eight or thirty years, I can never be totally healthy even if I just got a good checkup. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the way our world is made. No individual or nation can stand out boasting of being independent. We are interdependent.” - excerpt from The Measure of a Man by Martin Luther Kind Jr.

The inspirational leader, Martin Luther King Jr.

Source: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

extensive body of science demonstrating that global warming threatens Americans’ health and well-being.”

My first reaction to this was a mixture of sarcasm and giddy laughter. Come on now, how is this groundbreaking news that the federal government is finally ‘acknowledging’ an issue that the American public and global communities have ‘realized’ long ago? I tend to desensitize and find the humor in situations, as my adjusted response over the years to disappointing circumstances and discouraging actions of American leaders. But, behind the humor is an underlying sense of hope and feeling that things are really changing in the United States. Maybe it’s due to the fact President Bush is leaving office soon - or maybe Al Gore’s rigorous climate change campaign has finally made a dent in the most obtuse of subjects - well, for whatever reason that the federal government is exhibiting ‘change’ clearly reflects an encouraging possibility that the tides are changing for environmentalism in the United States. How much more effective it will be if the federal government supports the American community and local organizations in OUR efforts.

Formerly known as the Grenada Relief Fund, this organization was founded in 2004 by actor Morgan Freeman. After the 2004 Hurricane Ivan plummeted and devastated the Caribbean island of Grenada, Mr. Freeman and his small group provided recovery assistance and spread the word of Grenada’s severe dilemma to the international community. As the result of collaborative efforts, Grenada became a prime example of how to successfully recover from severe storm and hurricane disasters.

Since then, Plan!t Now has spread it’s work to regions along the Gulf Coast of the United States and throughout the Caribbean.  According to scientific predictions, increasing numbers of hurricanes and tropical storms will occur in the future designating this as an URGENT issue. With proper planning and improving the environmental quality of coastal regions, we do not have to experience the same atrocities as Hurricane Ivan in Grenada or Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. If you want to help but not sure how, contact Plan!t Now or their campaign partner, the Sierra Club! People say ‘you can make a difference’ for a reason.

Since October 2007, a sustainable tourism program has been brought forth as one such solution for San Francisco. Tourism is the largest industry in San Francisco, that also directly and indirectly reaches EVERY other industry sector. In addition, San Francisco is world-renown for its innovative and progressive environmental conservation programs. However, no direct measures are taken to incorporate the tourism industry with the municipal conservation programs. But, by integrating the conservation and tourism sectors, the result is a sustainable industry with far-reaching impacts on the success of environmental programs. In addition to tourism’s cross-sector influence, the nature of tourism provides outreach and grassroots opportunities to impact and instill change among tourists and residents. Therefore, no other industry provides an all-encompassing opportunity to catalyze change on the scale that Mr. Gore has presented to the American community. By making San Francisco’s tourism industry sustainable - it can in turn make San Francisco a 100% clean-energy city. San Francisco has the capacity to be the city to catalzye change in the United States’ tourism industry and meet Mr. Gore’s landmark challenge.

To date, the proposed sustainable tourism program, Travel Tree, has been presented to key stakeholders such as the SF Mayor’s Office and The San Francisco Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (SFCVB). Stanford’s Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD) has partnered with Travel Tree, in providing support to research and develop the program for San Francisco. If you are interested in finding out more or supporting Travel Tree, visit www.traveltree.org or contact Rosalyn at rsalters@traveltree.org.

Native Energy assists Native American communities and farmers in the development of renewable and clean energy projects. The result is a more sustainable community prospering from social, economic, and environmental benefits. A few of their impressive clientele includes; NRDC, Aveda, Warner Brothers, Clif Bar, An Inconvenient Truth and more.

Climate Care develops and manages programs around the world to reduce the amount of carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Projects range from wind farm development in China to rainforest restoration in Uganda. Clients include prominent businesses such as Barclays, Lonely Planet, Yahoo.com, CARE International and more.

Both companies have a longstanding reputation and commitment to creating sustainable economies and combatting climate change. Take a step to support indigenous and rural communities in the USA and around the world. Incorporate carbon offsetting in your business operations and daily life now! Although it is not a solution to climate change, it does help by reducing emissions and providing sustainable solutions.