Aspen Climate Action Conference to be held October 11-13, 2006 at
Aspen Meadows, home of the Aspen Institute in Aspen, Colorado

High profile resorts and communities are taking action on global warming

Presented by: The City of Aspen Canary Initiative

Supported by: Alpine Bank, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Johnson Controls, Shaw Construction, and Sustainable Travel International

Conference website: www.sustainableconferences.com/index.html.

John Gitchell, Conference Organizer / Speakers & Agenda: John@SustainableConferences.com Phone:970-484-3995

Katie Hoffner, Conference Organizer / Marketing: Katie@SustainableConferences.com Phone: 970-227-7513

(Fort Collins, Colorado)- September 6, 2006 - Business, government and community leaders from around the country will convene October 11-13th in Aspen Colorado, at Aspen Meadows, home of the Aspen Institute, to learn about emerging policies and initiatives underway to stop global warming. The goal for this conference is to provide the models and resources necessary for all sectors of a community or organization to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective manner.

Surrounded by 14,000 foot peaks and stunning fall colors, resort operators, business leaders, government and non-government entities will immerse in the basic science, challenges, and strategies underway to address our warming climate. Not intended as a scientific debate, this action-oriented conference presents an array of solutions already in the works within leading communities and businesses. Tours, films, presentations, small group workshops and networking receptions will offer chances to learn from and connect directly with national leaders.

Featured educators at the conference include:

Will Steger - polar expedition leader, author, photographer, is known for his efforts to raise international awareness to environmental threats. Because of its remoteness, the great changes in the Arctic regions go unseen in our media. Will Steger’s expeditions document polar climate change, and transfer images and sounds around the world. The expeditions along with documentary films help educate about the plight of the Inuit people and put a human face on humanity’s greatest challenge.

Susan Joy Hassol - climate change analyst and communicator, has an ability to translate Science into English. Susan wrote HBO’s 2006 documentary, Too Hot Not To Handle to help make the complex issues of global warming accessible to policymakers and the public.

Roger Duncan, Deputy General Manager of Austin Energy, describes how the City of Austin envisioned, and is creating, a unified, sustainable energy system incorporating its electric utility, building infrastructure and transportation sectors.

Rocky Anderson, Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, joined with Robert Redford and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) to host the Sundance Summit in July 2005, bringing together 46 mayors from across the U.S. to discuss and plan action on climate change. As Mayor, Rocky committed Salt Lake City to abide by the Kyoto Protocol, and has implemented numerous programs to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Aspen Skiing Company’s CEO Pat O’Donnell and director of environmental affairs Auden Schendler join City of Aspen’s Dan Richardson, Stephen Kanipe, and a cadre of progressive leaders and educators from around the country including GreenPrint Denver’s Beth Conover, Xanterra Parks and Resorts’ Chris Lane, City of Portland’s Michael Armstrong, Department of Energy’s Doug Seiter, Sentech Inc / State of Hawaii’s Jonathan Hurwitch, New Belgium Brewing Company CEO and President Kim Jordan, Burlington Vermonts’ Deb Sachs, and Vail Resorts’ CEO Rob Katz.

Conference attendees will hear directly from these and other community and industry leaders on actions underway – from policies to practices - that help to stop global warming. Attendees will gain the inspiration, education, tools, and connections they’ll need to take significant actions back home.

But why Aspen? Resorts and destination communities, from mountains to the seaside, have the unique and high profile opportunity to demonstrate commitment, educate, and inspire millions of visitors into action. Aside from being one of the prettiest and most inspiring places on the planet, Aspen is also recognized as a center for environmental planning and leadership. Last year the City of Aspen launched the Canary Initiative to inform and promote climate action. Like all other communities, Aspen has a lot to lose with warming temperatures.

“The city of Aspen released a study that provides the best possible scientific guess as to what will happen to Aspen as a result of climate change. The results are stunning. In a moderate case scenario, which includes emissions reduction, Aspen would experience 6 degrees of warming by 2100, giving us the climate of Los Alamos, and eliminating skiing here. Even by 2050 skiing will be severely hampered, and perhaps gone. I won’t even discuss what happens under a “business as usual” strategy”, offers Pat O’Donnell, CEO of Aspen Skiing Company.

In their essay titled We Need a Ferris Wheel, Ed Marston and Auden Schendler describe how Aspen and other high profile communities can have profound and positive impacts. Archimedes said "Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand and I will move the earth." Marston and Schendler explain that “Aspen is both a lever and a place to stand…small enough to nimbly change; smart enough to know they’re on stage; and beautiful enough to inspire the world.”

The conference organizers are striving to make this a low environmental impact event. Green Tags will be provided by the national non-profit organization, Bonneville Environmental Foundation to offset emission for the conference facility and lodging. Sustainable Travel International, a non-profit promoting sustainable travel, will be at the conference demonstrating their green tag calculator and showing attendees how to offset their own emissions for travel to the conference via the purchase of green tags and how they can incorporate this into their own programs after the conference.

The City of Aspen has generously offered a challenge for attendees to profile how their resort, community, business or organization is taking action to stop global warming. If their story is featured at the conference, that entity will receive $500 off its conference package. Three profiles will be selected. A one page description (PDF format) can be submitted to John@SustainableConferences.com by September 15th.

The Aspen Climate Action Conference, October 11-13 provides an inspirational forum for business and community leaders to plan actions and create partnerships to stop global warming. A wide range of policies, strategies and opportunities will be presented. Attendees are encouraged to explore ideas and at the end of the conference, choose strategies and make commitments to take back home to apply within their community or organization.

Lodging rooms at the conference location Aspen Meadows are still available but limited. For details and registration, please visit www.SustainableConferences.com.