I listened to public comments on the Pitkin County commissioners\u2019 Climate Emergency Resolution, which included an impassioned protest not to listen to a \u201cbartender\u201d \u2026 \u201cbartender!\u201d for advice.<\/p>\n
Well, seriously, who hasn\u2019t? This was after our younger citizens quoted Greta Thunberg\u2019s UN speech. As Ms. Thunberg has repeated and repeated, \u201cListen to the science.\u201d If your bartender happens to have a PhD in climate science, well, then, you\u2019re in Aspen.<\/p>\n
There are plenty of things each of us can do on an individual level but that is not enough and that\u2019s the point of a \u201cclimate emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s our climate action? Here are a few ideas:<\/p>\n
1. Make all county- and city-owned vehicles electric or hybrid (incentivize EV purchases through HOV access and free parking).<\/p>\n
2. Make all county- and city-owned owned properties net zero.<\/p>\n
3. Carbon tax all jet fuel at the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport.<\/p>\n
4. All energy supplied to county\/city buildings and new construction must be from renewables.<\/p>\n
5. Ban all single-use plastics and micro plastics from retail vendors in the county\/city.<\/p>\n
6. Use recycled plastic as paving material.<\/p>\n
7. Plant trees to mitigate for every habitat area which has been destroyed for roadways (the roundabout springs to mind).<\/p>\n
8. Build wildlife bridges over roadways.<\/p>\n
9. Protect wildlife corridors (do not allow human encroachment \u2014 houses and\/or ski trails).<\/p>\n
10. Reduce the number of trails (foot, bike and motorized) through wildlife habitat.<\/p>\n
11. Install a diagnostic PPM network, which will give data points for carbon and air pollution.<\/p>\n
12. Monitor the carbon content of soil throughout the county.<\/p>\n
13. Pitco landfill, start pyrolizing construction waste and beetle kill for biochar compost, making rag paper, and mandating \u201cdrop and swap\u201d for contractors.<\/p>\n
14. Revegetate abandoned mine sites in the county like they did at Coal Creek.<\/p>\n
15. Keep the water in the Colorado River Basin.<\/p>\n
16. Reinstate grazing for fire and weed mitigation (looking at you, Aspen Skiing Co.).<\/p>\n
17. Mandate carbon offsets for all air travel by county\/city employees and elected representatives.<\/p>\n
18. Enact a billionaire tax to pay for it all.<\/p>\n
Less talk. More action.<\/p>\n
Ziska Childs<\/p>\n
Aspen<\/p>\n