Environmentalist Paul Hawken to Speak on Solutions to Climate Changein Honor of ACES’ 50th Anniversary

ACES hosts environmental leader in partnership with The Aspen Institute for public lecture on July 13th

Aspen, Colorado, July 9, 2019 — On Saturday, July 13th, ACES will welcome environmentalist, entrepreneur, activist, and author Paul Hawken, who will present on how humans can halt climate change — the most important challenge facing our planet. Hawken’s latest best-selling book, “Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming,” outlines 100 tangible solutions to address climate change, each backed by peer-reviewed studies and an extensive team of researchers. Hawken is one of the environmental movement’s leading voices, and a pioneering architect of corporate reform with respect to ecological practices. His work includes founding successful, ecologically conscious businesses, writing about the impacts of commerce on living systems, and consulting with heads of state and CEOs on economic development, industrial ecology, and environmental policy. Hawken is Founder of Project Drawdown, a non-profit dedicated to researching when and how global warming can be reversed and multiple sustainability-focused companies. His book, “Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution,” co-authored with Amory Lovins, has been read and referred to by several heads of state including President Bill Clinton who called it one of the five most important books in the world during his tenure as President.
Hawken will deliver the keynote address at ACES’ sold-out 50th anniversary celebration, An Evening on the Lake, on Thursday, July 11th. On Saturday, July 13th, Hawken will present a public Hurst Lecture Series talk at 6PM in partnership with The Aspen Institute at Paepcke Auditorium. Tickets are $25 per person and on sale via aspenshowtix.com or in-person at the Wheeler Opera House box office in Aspen.

“Paul is not only the foremost thinker in the world on corporate sustainability and industrial ecology, but also ties social justice to these issues,” said Chris Lane, CEO of ACES. “Time and time again I hear people say, ‘I want to hear solutions to the world’s environmental challenges.’ Paul has these solutions.” In “Drawdown,” Hawken provides a list of solutions that are ranked based on their potential to reverse global warming. Among these, many of the top 20 solutions revolve around food, diet, and waste. At Rock Bottom Ranch, ACES provides environmental science education programs and serves as a model for many of the most-impactful solutions proposed in “Drawdown,” whether that’s reducing food waste (solution #3),shifting to a more plant-rich diet (solution #4), or incorporating silvopasture (solution #9) and regenerative agriculture practices (solution #11) to increase carbon sequestration and improve soil health.

In a media landscape where much of the messaging around climate change can feel hopeless, Hawken brings an informed (and much-appreciated) level of optimism. In Hawken’s words, “What we wanted to do in Project Drawdown is to name the goal. If you don’t name the goal, fat chance that you’re going to be able to hit it.” As Hawken noted in a recent interview with Aspen Sojourner, it’s also human nature to want to find solutions together: “When we connect, it’s not a matter of one person’s vision but the collective outcome of people who are compassionate and kind and have touched back into the essence of their pure nature to regenerate. The default mode in nature is to regenerate. It’s what nature does. So, let’s do it. ”

To learn more about Paul Hawken’s upcoming public lecture and ACES’ educational programs and community events, visit aspennature.org.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday, July 13th, 2019

Time: 6:00PM - 7:15PM (Doors open at 5:15PM)

Venue Name and Address: Paepcke Auditorium
More information at aspennature.org/classes/paul-hawken-drawdown-public-lecture. 

Tickets: $25 per person, available for purchase at aspenshowtix.com or in-person at the Wheeler Opera House box office in Aspen. Early ticket purchase in encouraged, as we expect a full-capacity audience for this event.

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Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES),a non-partisan, non-profit organization, provides enriching environmental literacy programs for kids, teens, and adults as well as community and business leaders. With three locations between Aspen and Carbondale, ACES offers year-round programs focused on science, ecology, natural history, stewardship, forest health, regenerative agriculture, civic leadership, and more. ACES is a Charity Navigator 4-star non-profit, the highest level of ranking from America's premier charity evaluator. For more information and a full listing of ACES offerings, visit www.aspennature.org.