I serve on the Eco Action Committee of the Green Party of the United States. This committee is developing positions on various ecological issues. This is done via email and monthly conference calls.
One topic that has been discussed lately is the effect on the environment by Greens traveling from all areas of the country to attend the annual convention. It has been conservatively estimated that **41 tons** of carbon dioxide would be emitted from just travel to the meeting.
Since most people see value in face-to-face meetings, some have suggesting imposing “carbon taxes” through a variety of means and other ways of mitigating the effect of the travel. One option that has been discussed is to plant trees in the area in which the convention is held.
Some people see that as a symbolic effort and not one that would necessarily attract media attention. Others see it as, in one delegate’s words, Planting enough trees to counter the pollution this year will have an effect every year the trees exist into the future, mitigating the cost of meeting every year from just this one year’s effort…. Isn’t it also enough to do the right thing just because it is the right thing to do? We will be demonstrating a better and more responsible political stewardship of the environment. Showing what works and doing it are two keys to making change inviting.
I personally like the idea of mitigating the costs of travel with a tree planting campaign. How novel and unique and good for the earth.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 