At the 2015 ATWS in Chile, Rafael Gallo challenged the industry — in the spirit of the “Adventure Revolution” — to hold a carbon neutral Summit in 2016. Gallo, a longtime industry friend, spent the last year working on a plan with Costa Rica Tourism, leaders in sustainability, to enable us to take-up his challenge. Flying people from all over the world to Alaska for a week and hosting a four-day conference uses a consequential amount of natural resources. It’s not easy, but here’s what the ATTA and our hosts in Alaska are committed to do to not only reduce, but completely compensate for our carbon footprint during the 2016 Adventure Travel World Summit in Anchorage.

Carbon Mitigation
The ATTA and Visit Anchorage in partnership Alaska Airlines and Essential Costa Rica have made arrangements to make all four days of the Summit, including the Day of Adventure, completely carbon neutral with a tree planting project in Costa Rica. The trees will be planted by volunteers on August 19, 2016, in a protected forest reserve in the Pacuare River watershed. The native hardwood saplings will be cared for until they are three years old and able to grow without human intervention. Mitigation includes all days at the conference venue in Anchorage, flights for nearly 800 delegates from countries all over the world and transportation to and from the conference venue and during the Day of Adventure.

Shuttle-free Summit
ATWS will be shuttle-free during general sessions September 20 – 22. All host hotels are located within walking distance of the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, reducing the need for motorized transportation. There will also be a limited number of bikes available for use during general sessions courtesy of Lifetime Adventures. Bikes are located on the first floor of the Dena’ina Center during general session hours.

Give Back on a Day of Adventure
Visit Anchorage has partnered with Anchorage Parks & Recreation and the Anchorage Park Foundation to offer a Day of Adventure that gives back to the local community. Help clean up trails, plant trees and do general maintenance at green spaces around Anchorage.

Hard Rock Café Anchorage Give Back Event
Join us at the downtown Hard Rock Café Anchorage on Wednesday, September 21, for an after-hours event benefiting the Alaska Center for the Environment and the Anchorage Park Foundation. Your $20 admission gets you access to a private party at the Hard Rock Cafe with live music, appetizers and two drink tickets. Proceeds go to planting trees at a local park and for the Alaska Youth for the Environmental Action program.