State Climate Policy

Evolution of State Climate Policy

 List of documents provided below:

  1. Hick moves Colorado backward on climate change (9/10/2016)
  2. News Release: Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate Reaction to 2015 Colorado Climate Plan (9/16/2015)
  3. Summaries of Three Key Documents Related to Colorado’’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions (12/31/2014)

 

1. Hick moves Colorado backward on climate change

 

Published in the Boulder Daily Camera on September 10, 2016

 In April of 2008, Governor Bill Ritter issued an Executive Order establishing Colorado’s first greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals to help head off disruptions to our society resulting from climate change. Those goals were to reduce GHG emissions 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, both compared to 2005 levels. The Executive Order also required the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to report periodically on the State’s GHG emissions inventory. The directive was to remain in force until modified or rescinded by a future Executive Order.  Read more!

 

2. Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate Reaction to 2015 Colorado Climate Plan

 

News release for Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Fort Collins, CO – Member organizations of the Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate (CCLC) were disappointed to learn that the 2015 Colorado Climate Plan, which was released today by the Hickenlooper Administration, makes only cursory reference to the greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals established by the Ritter Administration.  The Plan does not acknowledge that the State is currently falling far short of achieving those goals, as is evident in the Colorado Greenhouse Gas Inventory – 2014 Update.  Read more!

 

3. Summaries of Three Key Documents Related to Colorado’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

 

Prepared by the Fort Collins Sustainability Group (12/31/2014)

Colorado Climate Action Plan: A Strategy to Address Global Warming (November 2007)

  • This document set forth three key roles for State government:
    • Enact “bridge strategies” to reduce GHG emissions immediately before cleaner electricity generation strategies can be implemented,
    • Provide “leadership” so that cleaner electricity generation technologies – including renewable energy (RE) and “clean coal” – can be implemented, and
    • Prepare State to adapt to climate changes that can’t be avoided.  Read more!