As “carbon offsets” becomes a buzzword (boosted in no small measure by celebrity green initiatives) the hospitality industry is stepping up its efforts. Ever vail is a $1 billion project from Vail resorts which presents itself as the most ambitious green initiative ever in North America, encompassing 1 mln sq feet and adhering to LEEDS certification (a new rating system which is independent, third-party verification that a projects’ development and design meet accepted high standards for environmentally responsible, sustainable development.) In related news, Canadian resort King Pacific is aiming for a first by offsetting carbon emissions of all lodge operations and guests travelling to and fro the lodge.
These initiatives are laudable in light of a new ominous draft by a panel of international scientists.. According to the draft by InterIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, starvation, floods, water-shortages & disease will descend on poorer countries the most as already battered ecosystems continue to splinter. For the US, smog will rise to levels of a major health risk from the somewhat trivial concern it is right now.
Alarming and pessimistic? No. The draft says most major catastrophes can be averted if the world seriously slows down its emission of carbon gases.