Now is such an opportunistic time in history to “make a difference” by joining together in key environmental actions. Why wait? I have learned from the Marriott Corporation and am personally glad to help a major environmental project – the Juma Amazonas Brazilian Reserve; one of 14 huge reserves in the Amazon. The plan is surely a “wow.”

It all began back in 2008, when Marriott went forth in protecting 1.4 million acres of arguably the world’s most important rainforest. I learned of the plan from Bill Marriott himself at WTTC Dubai and Brazil. They have 3,500 hotels globally and have a multitude of internal and external efforts to address environmental and social impacts.

Interesting. My husband and I have a foundation, focused on sustainable land use and US/International relations. We saw Juma as a perfect platform for aligning USA local-global efforts and for others to strengthen Marriott’s efforts. Indeed it was possible.

The TRIP Foundation – Juma Learning Center now teaches sustainable agriculture IPA principles within 30 remote communities and will conclude its work in 2010. Who would have thought our decision to engage could actually help avoid deforestation, reduce greenhouse gases, and help 400 families learn new ways of rainforest farming, well over 2,400 miles away?

The Juma Reserve is the first in Brazil to receive REDD designation (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) and has Gold status under the Climate Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA). It is designated to have approved carbon offsets credited by the VCS by year-end 2010. My view, it is a leading example of real protection.

Real partnerships protect places. Our kudos to Arne Sorenson and Mari Snyder of Marriott – for their belief in partnerships protecting places and their ability to move “talk” into “action.” Their infrastructure made an ideal setting for needed education.

Real protection also involves… governmental and scientific analysis, trusted partner(s), long-term outlook and action, social responsibility ethics, solid international relations, and “belief” that we can do it. Together, we can make a difference.

To conclude – as a developed nation, do we have the “right ingredients” to enact global change? How can we leverage action to help emerging and developing countries?

What an honor…to be at the Copenhagen Climate Summit on behalf of the tour and travel industry! Tour & Travel is the largest industry in the world and was a late approval for a “special side event” with presentations and press at the Bella Center on December 18th.

About 50 leaders from travel arrived for presentations via WTTC and WTO -World Tourism Organization and included some major airlines, global hotel chains, ministers of major tourism destinations and more. There was a serious and evident show of strategic, professional climate crisis plans, investments, cooperation and urgency.

Travel and tourism accounts for 5% of global emissions; and is a visible, responsible, and ethical industry. Amongst 40 other travel professionals, I had helped draft, circulate and adopt the WTTC 2020 Climate Plan, for about 18 months which was ultimately launched industry-wide in mid 2009.

Several of us arrived in snow and blustery weather of December 17 from London. The airport grounds were just incredible – with over 100 government and military presidential planes parked in every corner – hard to describe! I truly felt the sheer significance of this historical gathering…. from a small window upon my very first touch-down.

The Bella Center is located far outside the city center, and hotels were fully booked, and fully barricaded. Just imagine, every world leader being in the same city. Many delegates stayed outside Copenhagen, some in Sweden. Military tents were used for passport and registration clearance, with long lines and snowy conditions. Over 45,000 were registered. Press articles described the event as somewhat unwieldy for the Danes, not surprising, and described the outdoor registrees as “Emperor Penguins” in a wintry landscape. I felt an overwhelming sense of global enthusiasm and hope for what the next day might bring; and saw no signs of protesters or disturbances in our brief time.

Decision Day – December 18

December 18th…was decision day (conference started on December 7th). President Obama and the US delegation had just arrived and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made front page news on December 17 with US pledge of $100 billion annually by 2020 (and 17% reductions on 2005 levels by 2020) contingent upon transparency and public, private and multilateral funding. The arrival of the United States top brass…created more security, more buzz; optimism and enthusiasm. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had earlier delivered a compelling outcry for local and regional efforts – to a sold-out crowd. Gore advocated for an interim Agreement meeting in July in Mexico vs. year end. And the G77 (developing nations) delivered concurrent strong requests to China and the USA. No question, the place was emotionally charged.

As we came, thousands of negotiators hunkered down with legal teams, and the Danes decided suddenly, to relocate all “side events” to prioritize governmental work. We moved to the Marriott – where all convention space was booked for key industry presentations, and ours went very well and on time.

As the press concluded Q&A sessions, and skies grew dark by 4pm, word spread that global leaders — UK, USA, China and more…would stay through the night and as long as it would take, to come to a resolve. At the airport, we met legal teams from developed nations, those rewriting Climate Law and heard of their experiences in Copenhagen. It was an incredible time of sharing and caring.

For us, despite differing messages, I can proudly say that global leaders of diverse sectors of travel were speaking with “one voice” about our common goal – to protect our planet, to support our leaders and to comply with the urgency to reduce emissions, create innovative solutions and to work together on advocacy, education and cooperation.

Positive News: The economic advantages of travel and tourism were stated as measurably contributing to unprecedented positive levels of 2015 UN Millennium Goals: eradicating poverty and providing economic development and gender equality to women. According to WTO, 50 of the least developed countries now attribute “travel and tourism” as providing their #1 or #2 source of foreign income, more than ever before in the history of the world. New ways to travel lighter, smarter and more efficiently are well underway.

We are all at a key juncture. Copenhagen was significant yet …the real work is ahead and we can all contribute. I flew home to the USA with a sincere vow to continue the journey and with even higher understanding of the need for public/private partnerships. As a New Year rings in….