News Release: The Launching of the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization

The Rocky Mountain Climate Organization Launched To Address Climate Change In Colorado and Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 8, 2004

Contact: Stephen Saunders

303-880-4598                                        

saunders@rockymountainclimate.org

A broad coalition of mainstream interests today announced the formation of the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization (RMCO), to spread the word about what climate change can do to us here and what we can do about it.

“Colorado may be more vulnerable than anywhere else in the country to climate change,” said Stephen Saunders, RMCO’s founder and president. “For Coloradans, climate change means less snow, less water, more drought, and more wildfire. We think it is time to get serious about this and  take actions to keep this such a special place to live.”

Just as climate change is not an ordinary environmental issue, RMCO is not an ordinary environmental organization. “Our coalition includes unusual messengers, not just usual suspects, giving us the credibility to change the political climate on this issue,” said Saunders.

The initial RMOC partners are: 

-- Aspen Skiing Company, owner of four ski resorts.

-- The City of Fort Collins, one of four cities in Colorado with a greenhouse-gas reduction program.

-- The Colorado Mountain Club, the region’s foremost hiking club, whose mission includes preserving and disseminating information about the Rocky Mountains. 

-- Denver Water, which supplies water to nearly one-fourth of all Coloradans.

-- The Nature Conservancy of Colorado, the state’s largest conservation organization.

-- New Belgium Brewing Company, the state’s third largest brewery, and the first in the nation to meet all of its electricity needs through wind energy.

-- Westcliffe Publishers, publisher of photography, nature and trail books, including John Fielder’s photography books.