SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 7, 2024—SAM has partnered with the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), Taos Ski Valley, N.M., and Mountain Towns 2030 to welcome key stakeholders in the mountain resort community to the 2024 Climate Solutions Summit in Jackson, Wyo., Oct. 15-16 with a free arrival-day program at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

The Mountain Towns 2030 (MT2030) Climate Solutions Summit brings together stakeholders from mountain resorts, communities, and nonprofits to collaborate on solutions to the climate challenges impacting mountain towns through workshops, education sessions, and networking events. Among the topics on the agenda are renewable energy adoption, waste reduction, sustainable tourism, and community resilience planning.  

The arrival-day event is a new offering this year for ski areas who are attending the summit that aims to forge connections ahead of the intensive two-day summit program. It will include a tram ride, a panel discussion with industry leaders, and a cocktail reception. The Oct. 14 event is free, but space is limited: register here to take part. 

The below letter from SAM and our partners is a call to action that offers further insights into the valuable opportunity for collaborative climate action offered at the 2024 Climate Solutions Summit.

Dear Mountain Resort Sustainability Colleagues,

We are writing to personally invite you, your team, and local community leaders to join us at the Mountain Towns 2030 (MT2030) Climate Solutions Summit in Jackson, Wyo., Oct. 15-16, 2024. Stakeholders from mountain resorts, municipalities, local leaders, elected officials, and nonprofits will converge to share insights, strategies, and collaborative actions aimed at addressing the pressing climate challenges facing our mountain communities. 

This year will also feature a special arrival-day opportunity for ski area attendees on the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 14, before the summit officially begins. This will be a great opportunity to connect with other ski area attendees and learn from your peers before the summit. Additional details will be shared closer to the event date, but you should plan to arrive in Jackson by 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 14 to take part in this pre-summit event, which will begin at 2:15 p.m. The arrival day event is free and space is limited, so please register here to take part. 

“At Taos Ski Valley, we have been inspired by the collective efforts and innovative solutions emerging from mountain communities that are highlighted in the Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Solutions Summit,” said Dawn Boulware, VP of environmental and social responsibility at Taos Ski Valley, N.M. “We first attended in 2022 based on a suggestion from Mari Kissinger with Boyne and invited local elected officials and leaders in our community to attend. 

“We’ve gained inspiration, hope, and practical solutions to take back and share with our community and our resort. Through collaborative initiatives and proactive measures, we have witnessed firsthand the positive impact of shared knowledge and unified action in advancing sustainability goals within our region. The opportunity to engage with like-minded colleagues from other resorts and mountain communities has inspired our approach and is helping drive meaningful change.” 

This year’s summit will feature a diverse range of sessions, workshops, and special networking opportunities that cater to mountain resorts of all sizes. It’s a space for sustainability leaders to come together to network, foster dialogue and inspire action on key issues such as renewable energy adoption, waste reduction strategies, sustainable tourism practices, and community resilience planning. This year’s program will highlight ski industry leadership and initiatives on climate action to provide a collaborative setting for new ideas and action. 

Many impactful results have come out of MT2030, including the Mountain Collaborative for Climate Action, a unified climate effort among Alterra Mountain Company, Boyne Resorts, POWDR Corp, and Vail Resorts. We believe that your participation and insights will be invaluable in contributing to the shared climate objectives for our mountain communities. As fellow stewards of our mountain environments, we can leverage our experiences and expertise to create lasting, positive impacts for our communities and the natural environment we cherish and strive to protect. 

Here are the summit agenda and registration details for your reference. We encourage you to reach out to your local leaders and invite them to join you in attending. We sincerely hope that you will join us in Jackson this October for what promises to be an inspiring and productive event.

Warm regards,

Dawn Boulware (Taos Ski Valley, N.M.), NSAA, SAM, Mountain Towns 2030