Eagle County commissioners to conduct community conversations on climate change

The Eagle County commissioners are inviting the public to participate in a community conversation on climate change on Thursday, March 17 at the Eagle County Paramedic Services Building. The format for the evening includes dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed by panel presentations and a group discussion from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is free; however, RSVPs to conversations@eaglecounty.us by March 13 are requested.

Panelists are as follows:

• Auden Schendler is vice president of sustainability at Aspen Skiing Company where he focuses on large scale solutions to climate change, primarily clean energy and activism. Schendler was named a global warming innovator by Time magazine, wrote the book “Getting Green Done,” and serves on the board of Protect Our Winters. He will discuss climate science and responses by businesses and communities.
• Dr. Jill Baron is a senior scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey and an ecologist at Colorado State University. Her work is centered on understanding the ecological effects of climate change to mountain ecosystems, and is based on 32 years of continuous study in Rocky Mountain National Park.
• Dr. Dennis Ojima is co-author of the 2015 “Colorado Climate Change Vulnerability Study” conducted by Colorado State University and the University of Colorado. He is a professor of ecosystem science and sustainability at CSU, and a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
• John Gitchell is sustainability coordinator for Eagle County Government where he implements programs and projects to improve environmental quality. He will share information from a current study on greenhouse gas emissions and energy cost within our community.
• Dr. Kim Langmaid is the founder, vice president, and director of sustainability and stewardship programs at Walking Mountains Science Center. Her doctoral research focused on climate change in mountains of the American West and she is currently the lead facilitator of the Eagle County community climate action plan project.

The first Community Conversation on climate change took place in El Jebel on March 3. Approximately 50 people attended to listen and share insights, including residents and representatives from local businesses, municipal governments, chambers, nonprofits and utility providers.

The community conversations on climate change are intended to engage residents, business owners and partners in discussions with elected officials, expert panelists and each other on issues critical to the region. Every conversation in the series is taking place in two locations, one in Eagle Valley and one in the Roaring Fork Valley.

The remaining schedule is as follows:

• Thursday, March 17 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
  Topic: Climate Change
  Eagle County Paramedic Services Building
  1055 Edwards Village Blvd., Edwards
  RSVP by March 13
• Thursday, March 31 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.Topic: Early Childhood Development
  Eagle County Paramedic Services Building
  1055 Edwards Village Blvd., Edwards
  RSVP by March 27
• Thursday, April 7 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
  Topic: Early Childhood Development
  El Jebel Community Center
  0022 Eagle County Drive, El Jebel
  RSVP by April 3

For additional information or to RSVP, email conversations@eaglecounty.us or call 970-328-8605.