It is now very easy for San Francisco city tourists to take part in the green movement in San Francisco. This environmentally friendly city boasts a few major achievements in the battle against pollution including a ban on plastic bags, a 70% recycling rate and growing, the largest owned city solar installation in the United States and a goal to convert 100% of the city taxi fleet to hybrid or alternative fuel. Along with these achievements San Francisco is also home to the world's most environmentally-friendly museum, The California Academy of Sciences.
The city's tourism industry is not far behind the city when it concerns minimal waste and pollution. San Francisco International Airport is offering a discount on car rentals for hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles. Many tourism companies such as Extranomical Adventures, have been labeled carbon neutral with a low environmental impact and have pledged to continue to follow the city's lead. Companies, including Extranomical Adventures, take part in carbon offset programs which enable each tourist to help neutralize the pollution each tour vehicle generates by funding programs that work toward reducing CO2 in the air. Extranomical Adventures has partnered with "Versus Carbon Neutral" to help prevent deforestation, invest in biomass energy projects and plant trees.
Many green tourists are also opting to take advantage of the natural wonders surrounding San Francisco. A four mile hike along the Pacific Coastal Trail is popular among city tourists and allows for stops at the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, the Presidio and Ocean Beach. San Francisco is the leading U.S. city to partner with the Global Sustainable Tourism Partnership and has pledged to continue its efforts to minimize the city's carbon footprint.
