By Leah Thayer NORTH FORK VALLEY- Questions ring in the minds of Coloradans as changes and uncertainty rise in the state. We are living in an age where scientists warn the earth could warm somewhere between 1.5-5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. The latest national climate assessment says such a rise in…
By Leah Thayer SALIDA — Perched atop a small bluff, with a perfect view of the Sawatch Range, lies a house at the end of Ridge Road. The beautiful cottage belongs to Jerry Mallett, founder of the nonprofit Colorado Headwaters, and 20-yearlong resident of Salida, Colorado. Just over a month ago, on October 2nd, Mallett’s…
By Leah Thayer COLORADO SPRINGS Climate despair may be spreading increasingly as the climate crisis looms heavy on the minds of Colorado College (CC) students. Also referred to as solastalgia, eco-despair, or eco-grief, this overwhelming feeling of worry and hopelessness is increasingly the emotional response to climate change. Students at CC gauge awareness of eco-grief as…
By Leah Thayer CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO Imagine the wind blowing against your cheeks, silky white snow crystals flowing underneath your skis as you fly down the mountain. When you reach the bottom, adrenaline still pulses through your body. At the base of the mountain, you hear classic rock music, you smell the burgers and beers being…
By Leah Thayer SAN LUIS VALLEY, COLORADO Within the San Luis Valley of Colorado lies over 1.3 million acres of agricultural land, spreading amongst 1,739 different farms, and providing 4,687 local jobs. All of which is currently threatened by the onslaught of aridification in the San Luis Valley, resulting from changing climate. “Climate change impacts how…
By Leah Thayer COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO As a part of Colorado’s goal to reduce emissions and air pollution, the Martin Drake coal-run power plant is currently planned to be decommissioned by 2035. With this plan, comes uncertainty regarding the jobs of almost 1,800 people throughout the corporation. “It hurts a little bit, thinking about decommissioning,” said…
