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Aspen participates in ‘Here & Now Tour’ to address climate cost
By Aspen Times
· June 22, 2026
· 3 min read
Community members, elected officials and local conservation leaders joined together on 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 commun...
Key takeaway 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.
Why this matters in Aspen News
Aspen's participation in the "Here & Now Tour" brings much-needed attention to the local stakes of climate change, particularly in a town where winter sports and tourism drive the economy. The discussion around worsening wildfires, floods, and drought hits close to home, given Aspen's history of avalanche risk, spring runoff flooding along the Roaring Fork River, and wildfire danger in dry months. The estimated $1.5 billion annual cost of climate-related damages and adaptation efforts in Colorado will likely have a disproportionate impact on Pitkin County, where taxpayers already bear a significant burden for emergency services and infrastructure. As the city of Aspen and surrounding communities move forward with resilience planning, it will be crucial to prioritize collaboration between local governments, businesses, and conservation groups to ensure that the costs of climate change are shared fairly and that the community is prepared for the challenges ahead.
About this story
Original reporting by Aspen Times . Aspen News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: local ·
Published: June 22, 2026 ·
Source: Aspen Times ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Community members, elected officials and local conservation leaders joined together on 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 commun...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 22, 2026 by Aspen Times and curated for Aspen News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Aspen Times. To learn more about how Aspen News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from Aspen News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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