Local Experts and Activists Gather at Fort Lewis College for First Four Corners Climate Summit

Fort Lewis College (FLC) in Durango will host its first Four Corners Climate Summit on April 27. The event will feature environmentalist Terry Tempest Williams, national policymakers, artists, local scientists, and social justice advocates from the Four Corners region. The summit will present the findings of the Fifth National Climate Assessment, focusing on climate change impacts in the American Southwest. The event is open to the public, but attendees are advised to RSVP due to space limitations.

FLC Provost Mario Martinez highlighted the significance of the summit, stating that climate change is a concern for the entire campus and region. FLC, as a leading educational institution, aims to gather experts and use faculty knowledge to guide the region in preparing for climate change. The summit was proposed during a conversation between Provost Martinez and Emile Elias, a research hydrologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

The summit will include a presentation on the Fifth National Climate Assessment at 10 a.m., followed by a panel discussion. The panel will feature national climate change experts including Emile Elias, Jennifer Vanos, Steven M. Ostoja, Mark Brunsun, Caiti Steele, and Allyza Lustig.

At 1:15 p.m., keynote speaker Terry Tempest Williams will discuss her experiences as an environmental activist. Williams, an author of several environmental books, has appeared in PBS documentary series such as “The West” and “The National Parks: America's Best Idea”.

The summit will continue with presentations by regional experts at 2 p.m., including Karen Bailey and Brandon Francis, who will discuss human-environment interactions and plant research, respectively.

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