Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate on Colorado Joining the U.S. Climate Alliance and Executive Order D 2017-015

For immediate release

Wednesday, July 12th, 2017

Contact: Kevin Cross, 970-419-8944, info@fccan.org

Fort Collins, CO – Yesterday, Governor Hickenlooper announced that Colorado will join the U.S. Climate Alliance.  He also released an Executive Order titled “Supporting Colorado’s Clean Energy Transition,” in which he set forth new climate goals for our State.  (See Governor’s office news release below for details and a link to the Executive Order).

The Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate (CCLC) is pleased that Colorado will join the U.S. Climate Alliance.  The CCLC partnered with over 40 other Colorado organizations in June to call on Governor Hickenlooper to sign Colorado on as a member of that group.  The U.S. Climate Alliance is committed to upholding the goal set forth by the United States Government when it signed the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement of reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 26% – 28% compared to 2005 levels by 2025.

In the Executive Order released yesterday, Governor Hickenlooper set a goal of reducing Colorado’s overall GHG emissions by at least 26% by 2025 compared to 2005 levels.  Although this goal is consistent with the United States’ Paris Agreement goal, it is not consistent with the best available science.  To limit the global average temperature rise to 1.5° C (2.7° F), the entire world would need to reduce its GHG emissions to zero by 2050.  Reducing Colorado’s emissions by 26% compared to 2005 levels does not put us anywhere close to that path.  In fact, the goal established yesterday by Governor Hickenlooper would put us on a path toward catastrophic global climate change that is only slightly less steep than the “business as usual” path.

Since 2015, the CCLC has called for Colorado to reduce its statewide GHG emissions to zero by 2030.  We repeat that call today, and demand that Governor Hickenlooper establish new interim goals that will contribute to preserving a livable climate for future generations.

For further information, visit our website at https://colivableclimate.org.

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From: Montgomery – GovOffice, Jacque <jacque.montgomery@state.co.us>
Date: Tue, Jul 11, 2017 at 11:45 AM
Subject: For Immediate Release: Colorado commits to state climate action
To:

For Immediate Release

Office of Gov. John Hickenlooper

Jacque Montgomery | jacque.montgomery@state.co.us |303-866-4361

Colorado commits to state climate action

DENVER — Tuesday, July 11, 2017 — Gov. John Hickenlooper today signed an executive order committing the state to climate action. He also announced that Colorado will join the U.S. Climate Alliance.

“Coloradans value clean air and clean water. Our strong economy is a reflection of how our exhilarating outdoors attracts young entrepreneurs and the talent they need for their businesses,” said Governor John Hickenlooper. “The vast majority of our residents, and indeed the country, expect us to help lead the way toward a clean and affordable energy future. In this process, we no doubt can address climate change while keeping a priority on household budgets.”

The executive order declares it to be the goal of the State of Colorado to achieve the following:

  • Reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by more than 26 percent from 2005 levels by 2025;
  • Reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector by 25 percent by 2025 and 35 percent by 2030 from 2012 levels; and
  • Achieve electricity savings of two percent of total electricity sales per year by 2020.

Colorado also is committing to:

  • Work strategically with any interested utility or electric cooperative on a voluntary basis to maximize use of renewable energy without increasing costs to taxpayers;
  • Create a statewide electric vehicle plan by January 1, 2018;
  • Develop a greenhouse gas emissions tracking rule through the Department of Public Health and Environment;
  • Identify opportunities to partner with local governments on locally-led climate resilience actions;
  • Institutionalize the state’s greening government initiative;
  • Formalize and expand upon cross-agency actions to provide economic development strategies and other supportive services to communities impacted by the changing energy landscape, and submit a written annual report detailing those efforts and accomplishments;
  • Incorporate the emissions reductions goals into the Colorado Climate Plan and solicit stakeholder input regarding additional measures or strategies to advance these goals.

To view the complete executive order, click here.

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