Emagazine just published an article announcing last weeks release of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) document corroborating the facts that greenhouse gas emissions cause health problems to humans. As stated in the article by Vickie Patton of the Environmental Defense, “This is a long-awaited EPA analysis that has been kept under wraps by the White House. It’s of critical importance because it looks at the

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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.

In response to Al Gore’s ‘Challenge to Repower America‘, what better time to introduce a solution than now. Last week, Mr. Gore challenged Americans to become carbon-independent within the next ten years. Of course, the first response from many people is that this challenge is ‘too ambitious’ or that ‘it can’t be done’. Well, my response is that it CAN be done and plans have ALREADY been progressing in San Francisco to implement measures that can achieve Mr.Gore’s goal.

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.