In 2019, a powerful idea was born right here in Park City. We recognized that as a mountain community, we are on the front lines of climate change, and we also knew we couldn’t solve this crisis alone. From that key insight, Mountain Towns 2030 (MT2030) was founded with a clear mission to help mountain communities accelerate progress and achieve zero-carbon emissions.
Just a few weeks ago, the power of that Park City-born idea was on full display at our annual Climate Summit in Breckenridge, where we convened over 600 leaders from 61 mountain communities and 37 ski resorts across North America. The MT2030 Climate Summit has become the leading climate gathering for mountain communities, uniting government officials on both sides of the aisle, resort executives, and nonprofit partners to accelerate our collective progress.
This was a summit of solutions and commitment. We heard from 119 speakers, including Ramón Méndez, Uruguay’s former national director of energy, who detailed how his country transformed its electrical grid to 98% renewable energy.
We were inspired by the youth climate activists from Livingston, Montana, who won a landmark case challenging their state’s failure to address climate change. And we had mountain community leaders sharing case studies and unique insights to their colleagues to do the same, quicker.
Most importantly, we saw real action. In a historic moment, 37 elected leaders from mountain towns across the United States signed a collective statement pledging “to work together to accelerate climate solutions at the local and regional level, building a nationwide subnational movement powerful enough to drive emissions to zero.”
Park City should be proud. We didn’t just start an organization. We sparked a movement. We’re empowering mountain communities across the United States to drive real climate progress and show other communities what’s possible.
The success of MT2030 is a testament to Park City’s values, our commitment to protect the places we love, and our willingness to lead. This national momentum, which we helped build, should inspire us to double down on our own climate goals and continue to champion the collaborative spirit that began right here.
Andy Beerman, Bryn Carey, Luke Cartin, Tom Herrod, Eyee Hsu, Anna Robertson
MT2030 Board Members