About
We Believe in Our Community
The Ashland Climate Collaborative is a nonpartisan group of community members working to give our children the future they deserve. We bring people together who want to do what they can about climate pollution — right here in Ashland.
Our opportunity
Community and individual choices make a difference. We have a huge opportunity to bring people together and take action to protect the people and places we love—for our kids and their future.
99% of scientists agree, climate change is real. It is here, affecting our community, from rising temperatures to extreme fire season. But together, we can make a difference.
Why is climate change happening?
Burning fossil fuels like oil (gasoline/diesel), coal, and natural gas creates a pollution blanket around the Earth. This “blanket” traps heat, making extreme weather events—like wildfires, droughts, floods, storms, and heatwaves—more severe and more frequent.
The good news? We can prevent these disasters from getting worse by supporting abundant, clean energy sources and taking action together.
Get involved
We’ve got a plan, and it starts by working together as a community. No matter where you come from, or what your politics are, you can join others to protect our kids’ future. Learn more about our action teams below!
Our action teams
Ashland Climate Collaborative Action Teams are guides — experts in home energy, transportation, composting, water conservation, and climate gatherings. Their sole purpose is to pave the way for community climate solutions — and they'd love to meet you!
Electrify Ashland Now
Water Conservation
Climate Clubs
Streets for Everyone
Community Compost
Why Ashland?
Right? After all, climate change is a global issue. We think of it like the famous quote: “There is only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time.” The way to tackle an enormous task is by breaking it down into smaller, manageable pieces.
And Ashland is ideal! Our sweet town is relatively small, with 21,400 awesome people. It’s 6 miles long and a few miles wide. As a collective, we care about our kids, our homes, and our futures. What a great place to invite everyone to get involved.
Thinking beyond… Envision thousands of motivated communities across the country also doing what they can. While no single community can solve the problem, many, acting separately or together, can have a big impact.
We are nonpartisan, and all participation is entirely voluntary.
Our mission
The Ashland Climate Collaborative was formed in 2021 to serve as a hub for community-based action to reduce our climate footprint and build a resilient community.
We energize, engage, and mobilize the entire Ashland community to accelerate integrated, meaningful, scalable, and equitable climate solutions.
We collaborate across our city, region, and state, building crucial networks to foster resilience for this generation and the next.
Our vision
Our vision is a community that is healthy, equitable, culturally and economically vibrant, and in harmony with our natural environment.
Everyone is welcome to participate: members of the community, City staff, public commissioners, other local climate and environmental organizations, businesses, and institutions.
We believe that Ashland residents want to be part of the solution. Let’s work together to ensure a livable community for now and for future generations.
Our core values
Optimism: We know success is attainable.
Equity: Our community works for all.
Responsible: We are obligated to care for current and future generations.
Respect: We each experience climate change and solutions both as individuals and as members of our communities.
Results-driven: We focus on solutions that are effective and enduring.
Diversity: We believe that encouraging, including, and acting upon diverse voices improves our shared future.
Strategic: We are thoughtful, creative, open-minded, and proactive, pursuing multiple paths to success.
Our goals
Work with the City and community to implement our climate plan
Empower, educate, and inspire action
Assist vulnerable community members
Strengthen community partnerships
Build capacity
Our Annual Report
April 2025
2024 was a year of rapid growth — and we’re more confident than ever that we’re on the right path!
- We hired Erin O’Kelley Muck as our first Executive Director and laid the foundation for a sustainable organization.
- Our Action Teams and neighborhood clubs brought Ashlanders together to make tangible progress in reducing our climate footprint and enhancing our resilience.
- We formalized a strategy to help our most vulnerable residents.
- We continue to work with the City of Ashland to implement Ashland’s 2017 Climate and Energy Action Plan.
Together, we will reach our climate goals. Thank you for helping to make the Collaborative a success!
#wereallinashland
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