FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 16, 2014
Contact: Ki Coulson, Great March for Climate Action: 805-270-5232, ki@climatemarch.org
Shane Levy, Sierra Club: 415-977-5724, shane.levy@sierraclub.org
Micah Parkin, 350 Colorado: 504-258-1247, micah@350colorado.org
Coast-to-Coast March for Climate Action Arrives in Denver
DENVER — On June 16, 2014, the Great March for Climate Action will co-host a rally with the Sierra Club, 350 Colorado, Clean Energy Action, Colorado Renewable Energy Society, and Citizens Climate Lobby to inspire action to address the impacts of the climate crisis. The rally will be held on June 16th at 4:30 pm on the West steps of the Capitol building at 200 E Colfax Ave.At 5:30 pm the group will then march from the Capitol building down the 16th Street Mall to the Alliance Center.
Shaun McGrath, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 Administrator, will speak about the EPA’s carbon pollution standard at 6 pm at the Alliance Center. The public is also invited to join the other community events including a Dinner and Symposium from 6:30 – 8 pm and a 350 Colorado March Celebration from 8 – 11 pm. Both events will be held at the Mercury Café. These events are part of a cross-country trek intended to inspire action and collaborative organizing to address the sources and impacts of climate change.
“Out here in the West, we are keenly aware of the impact climate change is having on our livelihoods, our health and our environment,” said Shaun McGrath, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 Administrator. “These climate action marchers may have witnessed some of those impacts as they crossed from the coastal to the arid, mountainous West. We applaud their efforts to bring attention to the issues of climate change that we all face.”
The Great March for Climate Action enters Denver at a significant time in Colorado as the EPA releases its first draft of regulations for existing coal-fired plants. “This historic regulation is the turning point that will move us from dependence on carbon intensive fuels towards those that are cleaner burning – in a way that is affordable, flexible and meets the needs of every state,” said Administrator McGrath.
Marchers are walking 3,000 miles, away from family, friends, work and school, to inspire and organize action to address the present and growing threat of climate change on local, national, and global levels. Marchers began their journey on March 1, 2014 in Los Angeles and will end their march in Washington, DC on November 1, 2014.Kat Haber, a 56-year-old Vail resident and organizer for TEDxVail Women, is among the long-term marchers. More Colorado natives are expected to join the March from Colorado Springs to Denver.
The marchers represent 36 different states, 6 countries, and range in age from 8 to 93 years. Along their journey, thousands of other marchers will walk portions of this route to demand action on the climate crisis. Please visit www.climatemarch.org to join the March and find out more about the events in Denver.
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