Every year, 70,000 people (and growing) travel from all over the world to attend what’s been called an “social experiment in community and art.” Burning Man has become more than an annual festival, it is shaping a culture and ethos for living year-round.

Of the 10 Principles guiding the event, environmental commitment is key: "Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves and endeavor, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them."

Burning Man was ahead of its time with “Leave No Trace,” going further than many other festivals. It’s time to lead again and go beyond just the physical items on the ground. The emissions from the event are real and are contributing to climate change--affecting me and you, whether or not we are in the desert.

Burning Man can continue to be an unequivocal force for good in the world, a leader in sustainability and a place where solutions are born.

The Burning Man board will soon be deciding on key policies and logistics for next year's festival. It’s time for them to make sustainability a priority and live up the full promise of being “Leave No Trace.”