GWMP Supports Launch of Aspen Public Radio’s Climate Desk to Elevate Local Climate Journalism in Colorado

The Global Warming Mitigation Project (GWMP) is proud to be a leading supporter of Aspen Public Radio’s newly launched Climate Desk, a dedicated newsroom initiative focused on climate change and environmental reporting in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley, Colorado River Valley, and the broader Western Slope.

The announcement was made by Aspen Public Radio Executive Director Breeze Richardson during the 2025 Aspen Ideas Festival at a panel titled “Local News Could Save Us All”, alongside John Palfrey (MacArthur Foundation), Jenn White (NPR’s 1A), and moderator Vivian Schiller (Aspen Digital, Aspen Institute).

The Climate Desk will provide accurate, accessible, and community-centered reporting on the rapidly unfolding impacts of climate change across the region. From shrinking snowpack and altered runoff to worsening wildfires and forest decline, this new initiative seeks to not only document the changes, but also highlight local responses, adaptation efforts, and scalable solutions.

As part of our mission to elevate climate solutions around the world, GWMP has joined a coalition of regional partners—including Mtn Bio, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), and The Farm Collaborative—to fund the launch of the Climate Desk. This effort is made possible by generous donors including Glenda Greenwald, Spike Buckley, Melony & Adam Lewis, Alpenglow Foundation, Humphreys Foundation, Evans Hahn Foundation, and the Aspen Skiing Company’s Environment Foundation.

“Local climate journalism is essential to building the awareness and urgency needed for real change,” said Christy Mahon, Vice-President of Development at ACES. “We’re proud to support Aspen Public Radio’s Climate Desk and its commitment to telling the stories that matter most.”

Thanks to this collaborative investment, the station has hired its first full-time climate reporter, Michael Fanelli, who brings deep experience from reporting in Alaska on the economic and environmental consequences of climate change. Fanelli will lead the station’s climate coverage and represent Aspen Public Radio next month at Aspen Ideas: Climate in Chicago—a gathering of global leaders advancing solutions to the climate crisis.

Beginning July 1, Aspen Public Radio will also begin airing Climate Connections, a 90-second weekday segment created by the Yale Center for Environmental Communication, during the 11 a.m. hour of Here & Now.

The Climate Desk joins a growing newsroom at Aspen Public Radio, which includes focused coverage on women, social justice, and the arts, and reflects a strong commitment to in-depth, local journalism at a time when national narratives often overshadow regional realities.

At GWMP, we believe that storytelling is a critical part of climate action. By supporting bold, solutions-oriented journalism like this, we help equip communities with the knowledge they need to face climate change head-on—and inspire others to follow their lead.

To learn more about Aspen Public Radio’s Climate Desk and access upcoming stories and broadcasts, visit aspenpublicradio.org.