Aspen participates in ‘Here & Now Tour’ to address climate cost
Community members, elected officials and local conservation leaders joined together Thursday at Aspen One’s Buttermilk Lodge for a local “Here & Now Tour: Building Local Resilience to Climate Disasters,” part of a statewide listening engagement initiative aimed at strengthening Colorado communities against growing climate impacts.
The event, which was co-hosted by groups including 350 Roaring Fork, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, Clean Energy Economy for the Region and Aspen One, brought together residents, business and government leaders and staff throughout the Roaring Fork Valley to discuss the increasing effects of climate change. According to a press release, this included worsening wildfires, floods, drought, extreme temperatures and rising economic costs facing local businesses — particularly the winter sports industry — in addition to governments and families.
“This tour is about empowering communities to prepare for the climate change realities we are already facing while ensuring that the financial burden does not fall solely on taxpayers, and that the biggest historic polluting fossil fuel companies pay their fair share,” Micah Parkin, Executive Director of 350 Colorado and one of the organizers of the event, said in the release. “We truly appreciate everyone who took the time to participate, share experiences, and contribute thoughtful ideas about climate impacts, resilience, and community priorities.”
Featured speakers included ACES Forest and Climate Director Adam McCurdy, 350 Colorado Director Micah Parkin, city of Aspen Sustainability Manager Clare McLaughlin, Aspen Fire Chief and CEO Jake Anderson and Aspen One Sustainability & Philanthropy Director and town of Basalt Mayor Pro Tem Hannah Berman.
“The speakers emphasized the importance of local resilience planning, community collaboration, and long-term climate accountability,” the release reads.
The discussion highlighted particular findings from the 2026 Colorado Fiscal Institute report, “Colorado Climate Damages & Adaptation Costs,” estimating that climate-related damages and adaptation efforts could cost Coloradans a minimum of $1.5 billion annually through 2050.
“Currently these costs fall squarely on taxpayers — local governments, businesses and families,” the release confirms.
Speakers and attendees also addressed policy proposals that include the creation of a “Climate Superfund” requiring major fossil fuel corporations that have contributed over one billion tons of climate pollution historically to pay into a fund that helps cover the escalating costs of climate adaptation, disaster response and infrastructure recovery. The release states that the listening tour is gathering public input on what resilience measures communities around the state need most in order to inform the policy that is being developed.
“We’re proud to stand with ACES, the Roaring Fork Wildfire Collaborative, and 350 Colorado in helping bring this conversation to the Valley,” Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Advocacy, and Community for Aspen One Chris Miller said in the release. “Vermont and New York have proven that polluters – not taxpayers alone – can be held accountable for the costs of climate change, and that those dollars can be reinvested in the resilience our communities desperately need. The Roaring Fork Valley knows firsthand what’s at stake. Events like this are how we build the political will to bring that same accountability to Colorado.”
The Aspen gathering was the fifth stop of the Colorado-wide tour, which will continue in additional communities throughout the state over the summer.
For those who missed the event but are still interested in sharing their climate resilience ideas, they can do so in a follow-up survey at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7tf0FYLdy29ugeut6AVfrGbOnYNeXSFPXme6A0AFFSv8KVw/viewform.