Climate Action Week at Walking Mountains is a week dedicated to inspiring climate action and fostering collaboration with local climate action partners in Eagle County. From meeting llamas to exploring sustainable snow-melting solutions, the week was jam-packed with over a dozen sustainability-focused events, delivering something for everyone.
This year over 800 people participated in Climate Action Week events. The week started off strong with a free Spanish viewing of Ferngully at Riverwalk Theater. Despite being a children’s movie, the 1992 film explores themes of exploitation of both animals and natural resources with an overarching theme of deforestation.
The week continued with a walking tour of Vail to highlight their exploration of a sustainable geothermal snowmelt system, ending with a happy hour at Blue Moose Pizza, a leader within our 2025 Walking Mountains Sustainability Business Cohort. On Saturday, Walking Mountains partnered with the Eagle County Conservation District and Wiggle Worm Gardens for a local sustainable agriculture tour. The tour included four stops: LaVenture Farms Market Garden, Paragon Llamas, The Ground Up, and Gerard Family’s Beef. At each location, participants learned about sustainable agriculture practices used by the landowners.
The week of events wrapped up on Earth Day, at the Wolcott Solid Waste and Recycling Center with a sold-out community tour with 20 participants. Hosting this tour on Earth Day was especially impactful. As the world grapples with a global waste crisis, seeing firsthand where our waste goes fosters a deeper connection to our consumption habits and encourages more conscious behaviors, such as exploring different waste diversion initiatives like signing up for the Vail Honeywagon compost drop-off service or increasing their recycling.
On the note of Earth Day, did you know that Earth Day is the largest secular observance in the world? More than 20 million people participated in the first Earth Day celebration held on April 22nd, 1970, and participation has only grown since. As climate regulations undergo significant changes, communities are coming together with increasing urgency to take climate action. Each year there is a theme around Earth Day, this year the theme is Our People, Our Planet which calls for unity around renewable energy.
Fortunately, Eagle County is actively contributing to this effort. Holy Cross Energy is working toward reaching its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030 and offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. These goals are being pursued through investments in solar and wind energy, replacing traditional fossil fuels like coal and natural gas.
To support these efforts, Eagle County has adopted a Climate Action Plan aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% this year, 50% by 2030, and 80% by 2050. The plan outlines specific goals for mitigation. The Climate Action Collaborative (CAC) was established to prioritize climate resilience in Eagle Valley, ensuring a healthy ecosystem and thriving economy for both current and future generations.
The CAC is currently focused on developing a regional roadmap for net-zero building codes, expanding electric vehicle infrastructure, and supporting Holy Cross Energy in achieving its renewable energy objectives. The Climate Action Plan and Climate Action Collaborative are valuable assets to the community in Eagle County and prioritize environmental well-being. Eagle County is united by a shared commitment to protect human health, agriculture, water resources, forests, and wildlife. It’s important that our community feels supported in the face of ever-changing climate regulations.
Quinn Stewart is a Sustainability Intern at Walking Mountains who supports sustainable business outreach and waste diversion.
