Carbon & Travel
APSA recognizes the effect travel has on climate change. As such, APSA has joined the National Forest Foundation‘s Sapling Program to plant trees across the 193-million-acre National Forest System. APSA has included a donation option as part of the Annual Meeting registration form where you can help offset the impact of your own travel.
The donations received during registration will be donated directly to the National Forest Foundation. The NFF works to inspire meaningful connections to public National Forests and leads forest conservation efforts on these lands. These efforts include their goal to plant 50 million trees by 2025 within the National Forest System where the ecological need is greatest. With a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the NFF has the highest charity rating available, so you can donate with confidence knowing that for every dollar donated, one tree is planted.
What will happen to my donation?
After the Annual Meeting, APSA will donate 100% of the donations collected from attendees directly to the National Forest Foundation. From there, each dollar donated will go towards planting one tree in a National Forest.
How do I calculate how much to donate to offset my travel?
Suggested Donation Amounts by Mode of Travel:*
Air – North America
Air – Other International
Train – Regional
Car – Regional
$4 – $18
$25 – $55
$1 – $2
$1 – $4
*Amounts are estimated by the Climate Care calculator, where you can calculate your emissions by your mode of travel.
How does planting trees mitigate climate change?
Attendees from the 2023 APSA Annual Meeting donated a total of $4,080, which have gone towards planting 4,080 trees! These trees will be planted in the Northern Rockies to help with Whitebark Pine re-establishment, in Pacific Coast States to help with wildfire recovery, and other areas across the Western Great Lakes, Southern Rockies and Appalachia. Read more about these efforts in PS Now.
Meeting Sustainability Initiatives
Our Initiatives
- Sapling Program participant through the National Forest Foundation
- Electronic program or mobile app in lieu of a printed program
- Recyclable badge stock without plastic holders
- Recyclable lanyards
- Signs are printed on eco-friendly materials
Pennsylvania Convention Center
- LEED Gold Certified Building
- 2023 Event Industry Council (EIC) Sustainable Event Standards Gold Certification
- GBAC STAR Facility
- Initiatives include:
- use of safe cleaning products
- reduced water use
- energy-efficient LED lighting
- new reflective roof
- expanded recycling
- streamlined management of HVAC, lighting, power, elevators and escalators
- View more information on PCC’s sustainability here
Housing Partners
Additional information coming soon!
- Philadelphia Marriott Downtown (HQ)
- TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Certified
- Loews Philadelphia Hotel
- Member of Greens Meetings Industry Council
- Partnership with Energy Star
- Food Donations in partnership with America’s Second Harvest
- Banquet/back-of-house recycling
- Energy Technologies including; Low-flow shower heads, compact fluorescent light Bulbs
- Seasonal menus that feature seasonal fruits and vegetables that can be bought locally
- The Notary Hotel
- Residence Inn Philadelphia City Center
- TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Certified
- Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown
- Offers electric car charging
- Hilton Garden Inn Philadelphia City Center
- Hampton Inn Convention Center Philadelphia
- Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia
How You Can Help
- Use public transportation to get into and around the city
- Place all waste and recyclables into designated receptacles
- Bring along a reusable water bottle to refill
- Donate to help offset your travel impact during meeting registration