California restaurants add optional 1 percent surcharge to help combat climate change

Some California restaurant-goers will now have the option to add a 1 percent surcharge to their bill to help farmers combat climate change.

The Restore California Renewable Restaurant program will give diners the opportunity to pay the voluntary fee as an addition to their check, CNN reported.

The money will go to a public fund run by the California Air Resources Board that helps farmers who use sustainable practices to reduce carbon emissions. The surcharges will pay farmers $10 per ton of carbon removed from the atmosphere.

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The initiative, which launched Tuesday, is open to every restaurant to in the state and several have already jumped on board, according to CNN. 

The fee is optional for customers to pay. Anthony Myint, one of the initiative’s organizers and a restauranteur, told CNN that if every customer at a certain restaurant paid the surcharge, the money would make the establishment carbon neutral.

“Restore California closes the economic loop between producers and consumers, creating a renewable food system,” the website states. 

Myint said he hopes that the Restore California logo will be displayed by eateries online or in their windows with hopes of driving more customers to the environmentally conscious businesses.

“It’s an exciting and enthusiastic approach to climate change,” Myint said. “You’re contributing with things that you like.”