I had the pleasure of introducing Rep. Edward Markey for his opening keynote at the recent Executive Council Sustainable Cities leadership forum.

Markey has been at the forefront of the Congressional response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, is the co-author of the Waxman-Markey climate change bill, and author of the bill that increased auto mileage standards for the first time in three decades. The League of Conservation Voters calls him the environment’s best advocate in Congress.

Markey gave a fiery address about the need for the U.S. to become the leader in alternative energy. What I found interesting was his view that regulation can be a catalyst to those efforts. While many business leaders think that regulation in anathema to innovation, Markey disagrees. He pointed to his prior work on the Telecommunications Committee that shifted a segment of the broadcast spectrum into commercial use for cellular and other wireless communications. Without that regulatory move, the cell phone and broadband revolutions would have been greatly slowed or might never have happened at all.

The lesson is that the private and public sectors can be catalysts for each other. The private sector organizations pushing for adoption of a carbon cost bill (either a carbon tax or cap-and-trade) are hoping that it will spur another revolution. They are also, to be honest, hoping to seek regulatory advantage by getting a bill that aligns with their competitive position. Public players have their own interests, too. They are hoping to get jobs created in their districts, contributions from companies that do well as a result of the legislation, and have something to point to as accomplishment in the next election cycle.

Marriott-branded hotels in the United Kingdom have successfully reduced carbon emissions and greenhouse gases collectively by 7.3 percent to earn Carbon Trust Standard certification, a government program launched in 2008 in response to the U.K.’s Climate Change Act to benchmark and assess company commitment and success in addressing climate change impact. In addition, 25 hotels will achieve Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) certification, a program validated by Visit Britain and the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) which assesses energy and water efficiency, waste management and biodiversity, by year-end.

One of the improvements involves the greening of all Marriott golf courses. Last year, the company announced a goal to have all of its golf courses certified by the Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary, a program that helps golf courses protect natural wildlife habitats, improve efficiency and minimize potentially harmful effects of golf course operations. Today, 10 courses, which are located in the U.K., have earned Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary-certification, bringing the number of Marriott golf courses earning the achievement to 48 worldwide. The ten golf courses are:

• Breadsall Priory, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club
• Dalmahoy, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club
• Forest of Arden, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club
• Hollins Hall, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club
• Hanbury Manor, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club
• Meon Valley, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club
• Sprowston Manor, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club
• St. Pierre, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club
• Tudor Park, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club
• Worsley Park, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club

To achieve certification, golf courses must demonstrate effectiveness in water quality management, outreach and education, wildlife and habitat management, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation and environmental planning. For more information on the program, visit Audubon International. For more information on the certification programs, visit U.K. Carbon Trust Standard and Green Tourism Business Scheme.

Building on more than 20 years of energy conservation experience, Marriott is committed to protecting the environment.  The company’s Spirit To Preserve® environmental strategy calls for:  Greening its $10 billion supply chain; further reducing fuel consumption by 25 percent per available room; creating green construction standards for hotel developers to achieve LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council; educating and inspiring employees and guests to support the environment; and helping protect the rainforest. Join their conversation about traveling green by following MarriottGreen:  www.twitter.com/marriottgreen.

Photo courtesy NRDC

President Obama announced two major new steps today to reduce America’s carbon pollution and oil dependence. He instructed the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation, working closely with California and other stakeholders, to issue a second round of greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards covering cars and light trucks for model years 2017-25. These will build on the landmark clean car standards for the 2012-16 model years announced in April. The president also directed those agencies to work together with California and stakeholders on the nation’s first-ever greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for heavier trucks, from urban delivery trucks to 18-wheelers, that will be built in model years 2014-18.

For more on this story, please visit NRDC’s website.

“Carbon offsets allow purchasers to neutralize the carbon dioxide produced from their businesses and everyday activities – their ‘carbon footprint’ – by supporting a variety of emissions reduction initiatives.” The Environmental Defense Fund

How does Carbon Offsetting Work?

Carbon offsetting is the act of mitigating (canceling out) greenhouse gas emissions. Individuals and businesses can purchase offsets to compensate for the greenhouse gas emissions from personal travel or production processes. Carbon offsets can be more efficient and immediate than other measures an individual can take to fight global warming, while reducing the same or more carbon dioxide emissions.

How can I start reducing my carbon emissions?

The first step towards carbon neutrality is reducing the carbon emissions produced, by using alternative energy, alternative transportation, reusing, recycling, and supporting local farms and businesses. After reducing what you can, use a carbon calculator to determine the amount of carbon emissions you produce (often referred to as the size of your “carbon footprint”). Most carbon calculators provide an estimate of household greenhouse gas emissions (in pounds) resulting from household energy use and waste disposal, and give you information you can use to identify ways to reduce your personal greenhouse gases. Once you know the amount of carbon that needs to be offset, do a little homework, and purchase credits covering that amount from a recognized and respected carbon offset provider. The credits you purchase will be used to support carbon-reducing projects such as renewable energy facilities, energy efficiency research and reforestation projects.

Also, be sure to search the collection of Carbon Offset retailers listed on GenGreenLife.com.

What about Emissions Trading?

For companies and other greenhouse gas producing entities, emissions trading, also called “cap and trade,” is sometimes an economically desirable way to control pollution. Through this method, companies are issued emissions credits by governments or international bodies (like the United Nations) which represent the right to produce a certain amount of emissions (the “cap”). Companies that need to increase their emissions must buy credits from those who pollute less. The transfer of allowances is referred to as a “trade.” In effect, the buyer is paying a charge for polluting, while the seller is being rewarded for having reduced emissions by more than was needed.

What’s the difference between Carbon Offsets and Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)?

The Environmental Defense Fund states that, “A renewable energy certificate, or REC, is proof that a megawatt hour (MWh) of renewable energy has been supplied to the market. Purchasing RECs helps develop the renewable energy supply by subsidizing the higher cost of renewable energy. When you buy a REC, you are purchasing and supporting “green” or renewable power. While RECs provide proof that renewable energy has been supplied, they do not offer verified proof that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.”

Information used in this section was found at EPA.gov, Carbonfund.org and EDF.org.