Announcing Utah Climate Week– October 8-14!

We’re excited to announce Utah’s first Climate Week, with events from Ogden to Orem and here in the capital city!

Organized by the Utah Climate Action Network, Utah Clean Energy, and Salt Lake City, Climate Week will provide an inspiring opportunity for community members to learn of the risks and breakthrough solutions to climate change.

Click here for a full list of events, and take note of an interesting panel we’ll be part of on October 12: Utah’s Clean Energy Future.

Mayor Biskupski will offer opening remarks on our Climate Positive goals and SLCgreen team member Tyler Poulson will participate on the panel discussing what cities in Utah are doing to transition to clean energy. Other panelists include HEAL Utah, the Sierra Club, and Rocky Mountain Power. Utah Clean Energy will moderate the discussion.

What: Utah’s Clean Energy Future

When: Thursday, October 12, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Where: Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium (210 E 400 S)

Learn more in the press release below.

We look forward to seeing you at an event during Climate Week!

SALT LAKE CITY — Climate change presents far-reaching, lasting challenges to Utah’s economy and quality of life, and presents an unprecedented opportunity for Utah to dramatically reduce pollution, bolster the local economy and enhance our state’s identity as an innovative 21^st century leader. That is why the Utah Climate Action Network and its many partners are sponsoring Utah Climate Week 2017, Oct. 8 – 14, a first-of-its kind platform for organizations and leaders to share concerns and a positive vision for the future.

Climate Week events for the public will include an inspiring and engaging range of movie screenings, speaker panels, project tours and participatory activities in Ogden, Salt Lake City, Park City and Orem.

“We’re excited to have such a diverse array of opportunities, both geographically and in terms of content,” stated Sarah Wright, executive director of Utah Clean Energy. “Having over 20 organizations participate in Utah’s first Climate Week certainly demonstrates the breadth of concern that exists locally on climate change.”

Why Climate Week?

Global temperature records have been broken each of the past three years, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the warmest 17 years since 1880 have all occurred since 1998. Rising temperatures and a changing climate are already having profound impacts on communities across the globe.

Here in Utah, record breaking temperatures have exacerbated summer ozone pollution issues, with ozone levels consistently exceeding national air quality standards. Climate change has also contributed to extreme weather patterns this summer, including extensive wildfires throughout the Western States, record-breaking rainfall and flooding in Houston, and major damage from hurricanes in Florida, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

“Climate change is a pervasive and daunting challenge, both in Utah and around the globe,” stated Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski. “Utah Climate Week is an opportunity to come together as Utahns and acknowledge the danger, while also illuminating local pathways to a low-carbon, more resilient future.”

Utah has shown an ability to lead on the types of scalable solutions needed to curtail carbon pollution. In 2016, Utah was second in the nation in installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity and currently ranks second nationally in the amount of solar capacity installed per capita, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Utah also recently led the nation in terms of growth of electric vehicle adoption according to global charging infrastructure provider ChargePoint, Inc.

“By bringing together Utah’s innovative spirit and unique advantages such as abundant sunshine, Utah can create a replicable example for tackling climate change,” said Myron Willson, deputy chief sustainability officer for the University of Utah. “New technologies and falling costs have put climate solutions at our fingertips. Efforts like Utah Climate Week help catalyze the social connections needed to implement these solutions. It’s exciting to be part of this transformation.”

More information about Utah Climate Week and a full list of participating organizations and planned events is available here: http://www.utahclimateactionnetwork.com/climateweek.html

About the Utah Climate Action Network:

The Utah Climate Action Network is a partnership between government, research institutions, non-profits, faith-based organizations, the private sector and individuals working to address climate change in Utah. The Network’s mission focuses on “Fostering diverse conversation, leadership and coordinated action to ensure a collaborative response to climate change and its impacts on the people, economies and prosperity of Utah.” Since its public launch in spring 2016 the Network has been hosting regular convenings for participating organizations, plus numerous additional opportunities for sharing technical information on local climate risks and solutions.