The Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership convened for its third day to conduct elections for its Steering Committee, which met for the first time in the afternoon. Delegates took in the Hurst Lecture, organized by the Aspen Institute, on “Building Alliances for Resilient Mountains: Changing the Way We Think About Climate Change.” They then endorsed the Aspen Declaration and welcomed two new Goodwill Ambassadors for the Mountain Partnership.
The meeting ended with closing remarks from government and international representatives. Delegates were invited to attend excursions into the mountains in the afternoon and the following day.
Members of the Mountain Partnership elected members of the Steering Committee, selecting one government and one major group representative and in some cases alternates per each region. The Steering Committee met for the first time in the afternoon.
Forum on climate change
Elliot Gerson, Executive Vice President, Aspen Institute, moderated the forum on climate change that was organized by his organization. Jon Creyts, Chief Program and Strategy Officer, RMI, referred to the potential of alternative energy, including increased battery capabilities and electrification for both vehicles and buildings. He noted that united global action is required to achieve climate targets.
Lynne Kiesling, Co-Director, Denver Institute for Regulatory Law and Economics, University of Colorado, talked about transactive energy’s role in transforming the electric grid and pricing energy according to supply and demand. She emphasized the need to digitize, decarbonize, democratize, and decentralize energy and technology to empower communities' energy choices. Zenia Tata, former XPRIZE Chief Impact Officer, advocated for addressing massive problems in an exponential way through convergence of exponential technologies, use of artificial intelligence and data collection.
Nikki Pitre, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Center for Native American Youth, urged bringing Indigenous voices into conversations around energy and technology. She emphasized decolonizing approaches to addressing climate change, noting that approaches informed by Indigenous ways of knowing can dismantle the systems designed to oppress marginalized groups.
Appointment of Goodwill Ambassadors
Jake Norton, Goodwill Ambassador Mountain Partnership, welcomed two new Goodwill Ambassadors: Nikki Pitre, member of the Coeur d’Alene tribe, recognized for her work with Indigenous youth and on inclusion of traditional knowledge; and Luis Benitez, established mountaineer and Vice President for Government Affairs and Global Impact, VF Corporation.
Closing of the meeting
Mayor of Aspen, Torre presented and delegates endorsed the Aspen Declaration. The meeting then heard closing remarks from government and international representatives.
Klaus Obermeyer, Sport Obermeyer, aged 102, attended to close the Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership and was recognized for his contributions to the sport of skiing and for his design and engineering skills.
To receive free coverage of global environmental events delivered to your inbox, subscribe to the ENB Update newsletter.
All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For the 6th Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership, please use: Photo by IISD/ENB | Matthew TenBruggencate.
Election of the Steering Committee
Rosalaura Romeo, Mountain Partnership Secretariat, announces the elected Steering Committee members.
South American delegates discuss Steering Committee nominations.
Delegates from Africa consider their nominations.
Delegates from North America consider their nominations.
Delegates from Asia discuss nominations for the Steering Committee.
Livio Spadavecchia, Counselor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy, reflects on the possibility of the Mountain Partnership focusing on projects.
Attendees listen to reflections from Livio Spadavecchia
Forum on climate change
Aspen Institute Forum on climate change “Building alliances for resilient mountains”
Elliot Gerson, Executive Vice President, Aspen Institute
An audience member asks about reducing levels of consumption in the Global North.
Zenia Tata, former XPRIZE Chief Impact Officer, and Jon Creyts, Chief Program and Strategy Officer, RMI
Lynn Kiesling, Research Professor and Co-Director, Denver Institute or Regulatory Law and Economics, and Nikki Pitre, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Center for Native American Youth
An audience member asks for reflections on nature-based infrastructure.
An audience member calls for urgent action on our "addiction to fossil fuels."
An audience member questions the amount of private financing and influence in mountain projects, underlining the importance of public control.
Elliot Gerson, Executive Vice President, Aspen Institute, Lynn Kiesling, Research Professor and Co-Director, Denver Institute for Regulatory Law and Economics, and Nikki Pitre, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Center for Native American Youth
Appointment of Goodwill Ambassadors
Jake Norton, President of MountainWorld Productions, Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador
Luis Benitez, Vice President for Government Affairs and Global Impact, VF Corporation
Luis Benitez, new Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador, and Rosalaura Romeo, Mountain Partnership Secretariat
Nikki Pitre, Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador, and Sara Manuelli, Mountain Partnership Secretariat
Nikki Pitre, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Center for Native American Youth
Closing of the meeting
Torre, Mayor of Aspen, presents the Aspen Declaration.
Sílvia Calvó Armengol, Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability, Andorra
François Pythoud, Special Envoy for International Sustainable Agriculture, Switzerland
Thomas Hofer, Senior Forestry Officer, FAO
Livio Spadavecchia, Counselor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy
Eric Smith, Vice-President, Aspen International Mountain Foundation
Rosalaura Romeo, Mountain Partnership Secretariat, and Karinjo DeVore, President, Aspen International Mountain Foundation
A film shares the pioneering accomplishments of Klaus Obermeyer.
Around the venue
The Mountain Partnership Secretariat team
The newly elected Steering Committee meets immediately after the closure of the Sixth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership.
Newly elected Steering Committee members waste no time getting down to work.
Children welcome delegates to Aspen at a Wednesday evening reception.
A child raises the flag of France in Aspen, Colorado, USA.
Children enter Aspen Gondola Plaza to the song "We Are the World."
Colorado bluegrass band Rapidgrass entertains delegates at a Wednesday evening reception.
Members of bluegrass band Rapidgrass
The sweet mandolin picking of Rapidgrass
Delegates fill Aspen Gondola Plaza for a Wednesday evening reception.
Showing off the quality of a Kyrgyz blanket
Technical production supported by Cowboy, who was very, very good.
A display for Sister Cities International in the venue.
A display shares the stories behind mountain community crafts.
Delegates enjoy lunch and the view at Aspen Meadows Resort.
Delegates enjoy a meal against an extraordinary mountain backdrop.
Earth Negotiations Bulletin team (L-R) Kyle Wiebe (Canada), Nicole Schabus (Canada), and Matthew TenBruggencate (Canada)
