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OCT 2026
Idaho
Since launching in 2019, the Summit has evolved into the pre-eminent networking and knowledge-building event for local elected officials and sustainability teams, ski resort leaders, nonprofits and local businesses, all committed to accelerating climate action in mountain, resort and rural communities throughout the US.
The Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Summit visits Sun Valley during the 90th anniversary of the iconic Sun Valley Resort, hosting a gathering dedicated to advancing climate action and mountain town stewardship.
Designed for collaboration and built for progress, this two-day gathering connects colleagues from mountain, resort, and rural communities to share what’s working and accelerate what comes next.
At a pivotal moment for our mountain communities, there’s never been a more important time to lead.
“More so than most conferences, it was clear that everyone involved is driven by a deep and sincere love of place, of home. And with that love of place — along with all the limitations and restrictions that come with being a small place in a large landscape — comes a certain pragmatism and creativity that are, in our hyper-ideological times, incredibly refreshing.”
Founder, Volts
The SV26 agenda is taking shape – designed around the real challenges and opportunities facing mountain communities. Check back as sessions and details are added.
Be part of the gathering shaping mountain town climate action and stewardship. Secure your place in Sun Valley this October.
Early registration only for local governments, mountain resorts and nonprofits is open now!
From local climate champions to internationally recognized voices, SV26 will feature speakers delivering the ideas, urgency, and leadership our mountain communities need right now. Speaker announcements coming soon.
“If, like me, you’re doing climate work in rural America, in small towns, in communities that don’t make headlines—find your MT2030.
Find the conference where your actual challenges get airtime.
Where the person next to you is solving the same problems you face Monday morning. Where peer learning isn’t a buzzword but the entire point.
Climate action doesn’t just happen during Climate Week. It happens in communities you’ve never heard of, led by people doing some of the hardest work with the fewest resources. That work deserves its own spotlight.”
Telluride, CO
Boise Mayor Lauren McLean is committed to creating a city for everyone and has worked tirelessly toward that goal, advocating for open space conservation, tackling housing and homelessness side by side with the community, and leading nationally acclaimed climate action efforts.
She has been recognized as one of the nation’s most promising young political leaders by the Aspen Institute and New Deal Leaders. She was selected to participate in the 2020 Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative on Economic Recovery.
Barbara Buffaloe is Columbia’s mayor. She is passionate about sustainability and community development and leads initiatives to create a greener, more resilient city. Before becoming mayor, Barbara was the city’s first sustainability manager.
Barbara serves on several boards, including the Missouri Innovation Center, Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI) and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. She’s the chair of the Environment Standing Committee for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and represented U.S. mayors at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2023.
Nathaniel Stinnett is the Founder & Executive Director of the Environmental Voter Project, a non-partisan nonprofit using data analytics and behavioral science to mobilize environmentalists to vote. Named one of five global “climate visionaries” by The New York Times in 2018, and dubbed “The Voting Guru” by Grist magazine, Stinnett is a frequent expert speaker on cutting-edge campaign techniques and the behavioral science behind getting people to vote. He has held a variety of senior leadership positions on US Senate, Congressional, state, and mayoral campaigns, and he sits on the Board of Advisors for MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative. He lives in Boston with his wife and two children.
John Marshall is the founder and CEO of Potential Energy Coalition, a nonpartisan, nonprofit marketing firm whose mission is to dramatically increase public support for action on climate change. John is a marketing expert with more than 30 years of experience advising the leaders of Fortune 500 companies on branding, marketing, innovation and corporate strategy.
We’re grateful to our corporate partners for their support. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Chris Steinkamp at [email protected].
