Western Leaders Network hosts regular virtual events and webinars to keep local and tribal elected officials informed of conservation and climate issues and policies that affect western communities. See below for our upcoming events and information on how to participate.
upcoming virtual events:
Check back soon!
Previous virtual events:
Democracy is on the Ballot: Protecting Democracy and Free and Fair Elections in 2024
The Brennan Center for Justice partnered with Western Leaders Network to host this virtual briefing on how elected officials can prevent election subversion, increase election security and champion democracy in 2024 and beyond. Download the flyer.
CODE RED Climate Action Series: Climate-Friendly Land Use
Matt Frommer and Elise Jones of the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project joined us to discuss how local, tribal, and state governments can build climate resilience into land use policy and planning. Download the flyer.
CODE RED Climate Action Series: Post-Election Conservation Outlook & Strategy
Earthworks Policy Director Lauren Pagel, former Chairwoman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Shelly Fyant and Southwest Energy Efficiency Project Executive Director Elise Jones joined us to discuss the opportunities and challenges for advancing initiatives to protect our lands, air and water following the 2022 midterm elections. Download the flyer.
CODE RED Climate Action Series: America the Beautiful and the Antiquities Act
Kathy Chandler-Henry, Eagle County Commissioner; Dan Hartinger, Government Relations Director for The Wilderness Society; and Craig Bakerjan, Campaign Manager for the Honor Avi Kwa Ame Coalition joined us to discuss how the Antiquities Act can help meet national climate goals and support local economies. Download the flyer.
CODE RED Climate Action Series — Colorado: Federal Funds for Climate Resilience
Dominique Gómez, Deputy Director of the Colorado Energy Office; Christine Berg, Senior Policy Advisor of the Colorado Energy Office; and Alyssa K. Dinberg, Recovery Officer at the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade joined us to discuss how local governments can access federal dollars to combat climate change and meet the needs of their communities. Download the flyer.
CODE RED Climate Action Series: Climate & Methane Pollution
Tiffany Polak, Deputy Director of the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division; Robyn Wille, Chief Strategy Officer, Air Pollution Division, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; and Laurie Anderson, Council Member for the City/County of Broomfield joined us to discuss what federal agencies can learn from state action to cut climate-damaging emissions from the oil and gas sector.
Download the flyer.
CCODE RED Climate Action Series: Clean Energy & U.S. Mining Policy
Tohono O’odham Nation San Xavier District Chairman Austin Nunez; Earthworks Policy Director Lauren Pagel; IRMA Executive Director Aimee Boulanger; and IRMA Senior Policy Advisor Kristi Disney Bruckner joined us to discuss the critical need to reform the 1872 Mining Law to address the climate crisis and reduce harm to Indigenous tribes, Pueblos, Nations and other communities directly impacted by mining. Download the flyer.
CODE RED Climate Action Series: Climate & Orphaned Wells
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján; New Mexico Oil Conservation Division Director Adrienne Sandoval; CEO of A-Plus Well Service Andy Pacheco; and Environmental Defense Fund Senior Attorney Adam Peltz joined us to discuss federal funding to plug, remediate and restore orphaned oil and gas wells through the REGROW Act. Download the flyer.
CODE RED Climate Action Series: Climate & Indian Country
Former Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior and Partner at Hogan Lovells Hilary Tompkins; Deployment Specialist for the Department of Energy, Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs Tommy Jones and other indigenous leaders joined us to discuss Indian Country’s leadership in fighting climate change. Download the flyer.
CODE RED Climate Action Series: Climate & the Interior West
U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and Earthworks thermographer Andrew Klooster joined us to discuss the Build Back Better plan, its climate provisions and how methane contributes to climate change. Download the flyer.
CODE RED Climate Action Series: Climate & New Mexico
Western Environmental Law Center Senior Attorney Tannis Fox; New Mexico rancher and WLN Board Member Don Schreiber; and Environmental Defense Fund Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Jon Goldstein joined us to discuss New Mexico’s methane regulatory efforts and how they will impact climate. Download the flyer.
30x30 - America the Beautiful
U.S. Representative Joe Neguse and Principal Deputy Director of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Martha Williams joined us to discuss what the 30x30 initiative is, why it is such a critical tool to address climate change, and what local and tribal elected officials can do to be a part of the solution. Download the flyer.
December 2020 - Post-election debrief and next steps
July 2020 - Colorado methane rulemakings
May 2020 - Economic transitions in the West
November 2019 - Colorado methane rulemakings
April 2019 - 1872 Mining Law and the need for reform
September 2018 - Colorado energy issues
August 2018 - Land and Water Conservation Fund and its benefits to western communities
May 2018 - Wildfire mitigation and land-use planning
March 2018 - Local economic diversification and the role of public lands