Forum on Climate Change

“The way that the Federal Government has managed energy development historically has been really tilted to favor extractive industries and we’re hoping to change the tide.” -Jim Ramey, Wilderness Society

KGNU’s Maeve Conran talks to Jim Ramey, The Wilderness Society’s outreach coordinator, about the initiatives being taken to change how the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) uses public lands for energy. The government has always used public lands for energy production, but now the BLM is working more towards renewable energies thanks to the different campaigns working towards renewable energy production.

On Oct. 12, the University of Colorado Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment, in partnership with Protect Our Winters and The Wilderness Society, will hold a free public event for Coloradoans concerned about the effects of climate change and interested in learning how they can make a difference.

The interactive presentation and discussion, which starts at 5:30 pm, will explore energy development on our public lands, threats to Colorado’s spectacular winter and wilderness outdoor recreation opportunities, and how public lands can help address climate change.

“It’s been a sea change at the BLM. They’ve really come a long way for where they were 10 years ago … to where we are now and we’re going to talk about that change and the kind of forward looking solutions that we’ve been working on.”

Fossil fuels extracted from public lands account for nearly 20 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to climate change that Coloradoans are already experiencing such as decreased snowpack, as well as earlier spring snowmelt and runoff. Attendees can expect to learn more about these impacts and the solutions Protect Our Winters and The Wilderness Society are pursuing to address these issues—with an emphasis on how individuals can help.

Forum on Climate Change KGNU News

The event is free and open to the public, but attendees must pre-register at http://bit.ly/WinterWildernessClimate. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be live-streamed at http://www.colorado.edu/law/live.

The event will be held on October 12th, at 5:30 pm in the Wittemyer Courtroom of the Wolf Law Building at the University of Colorado Law School, 2450 Kittredge Loop Rd, Boulder, CO.

Parking is free after 5:00 pm in Lot 470 (west of the Wolf Law Building)

A reception will follow the presentation, and will feature light hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages.