Just finished with a trip to sunny Spain, Gov. Bill Ritter headed north to the Norwegian Arctic as part of a week-long expedition on climate change.
Ritter’s trip is being paid for by the Aspen Institute, the National Geographic Society and Lindblad Expeditions, the governor’s office said.
Ritter wrapped up a taxpayer-funded economic-development trip to Spain on Wednesday, flew Thursday from Madrid to Oslo and began the Arctic expedition today.
The Democratic governor will travel on a ship with scientists, government officials and leaders of industry, observing firsthand the impact of climate change in the Arctic, his office said. Ritter also will participate in panel discussions.
Evan Dreyer, Ritter’s spokesman, said the Democratic governor was the only elected official invited on the expedition.
“More and more, Gov. Ritter is becoming a national leader on climate change and energy issues,” Dreyer said. “Specifically, he is a leader on turning these challenges into economic development and job-growing opportunities, as was clearly seen on his new energy economy business-development trip to Spain earlier this week.”
The governor and a handful of other state officials traveled to Spain to meet with companies involved in solar-panel production and technology for other alternative-energy sources. The governor’s office estimated the cost of that trip at $20,000.
Tim Hoover: 303-954-1626 or thoover@denverpost.com
