FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information please contact:
Tessa Schreiner, Sustainability Manager
Phone: (970) 920-5104
Email: Tessa.schreiner@aspen.gov
Or Carolyn Sackariason, communications coordinator
Phone: (970) 319-2791
Email: Carolyn.sackariason@aspen.gov

City of Aspen named climate action leader in 2023

Aspen, CO - The city of Aspen has been added to one of a new class of 119 cities across the globe to receive a top score on climate action from the environmental impact nonprofit, CDP, which is a global organization that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states, and regions. Aspen was recognized for taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency.

Designated as an “A List” city, Aspen is building climate momentum, taking four times as many climate mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A listers, according to CDP. 

Designed to encourage and support cities to ramp up their climate action and ambition, CDP’s Cities A List is based on environmental data disclosed by cities to CDP-ICLEI Track. Only 13% of cities that were scored in 2023 received an A score.

To score an A, among other actions, a city must disclose publicly through the CDP-ICLEI Track, have a city-wide emissions inventory, and have published a climate action plan. In Aspen, it is known as the Aspen Sustainability Action Plan.  

Many A List cities are also taking a variety of other leadership actions, including political commitment from elected officials to tackle climate change. 

“Aspen City Council has been proactively engaged in local environmental stewardship since the mid-2000s and in 2021, we have set the bold goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 63.4% by 2030 and 100% by 2050, which is based on science-based targets,” said Aspen Mayor Torre. “Climate change is real and in Aspen we are seeing impacts like warmer temperatures and more rain instead of snow.”

The city of Aspen and the other 118 cities on 2023’s A List are also celebrated for showing that urgent and impactful climate action - from ambitious emissions reduction targets to building resilience against climate change - is achievable at a global level, and in cities with different climate realities and priorities.

The city in 2007 created its first climate action plan, an early adopter for setting forth specific actions to achieve its greenhouse gas reduction goals. A few highlights of the city’s climate work since then include: 

• In 2012, the city banned single-use grocery bags from Aspen grocers.
• In 2015, the city transitioned the municipal electrical system to 100% renewable energy. 
• In 2022, city council passed a Building IQ ordinance to assist property owners in reducing their energy use as the built environment in Aspen accounts for 57% of greenhouse gas emissions. 
• In 2023, council passed an organics waste diversion ordinance to reduce the amount of food waste going into the landfill.

 “This CDP recognition is a culmination of decades of work and dedication to make the City of Aspen as sustainable as possible, and a testament to what we can do when local governments and community stakeholders work together to innovate in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and finding solutions that work for our local context,” said Tessa Schreiner, the city’s sustainability manager. “We’re honored to be on the ‘A List’ and excited to continue leading in the climate space.” 

To learn more about the city of Aspen’s sustainability programs, go to https://aspen.gov/293/Environmental-Health-Sustainability

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