Colorado Climate Project Tom Easley Director of Programs The Rocky Mountain Climate Organization rockymontainclimate.org

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CLIMATE Organization the Our mission: Spreading the word about what climate disruption can do to us here and what we can do about it.

RMCO’s 44 partners: Local governments: City and County of Denver Boulder County City of Aurora City of Fort Collins City of Boulder La Plata County Summit County

Local governments, continued: City of Louisville Town of Vail City of Aspen Town of Silverthorne Town of Breckenridge Town of Dillon Town of Frisco Town of Telluride

Local governments, continued: Town of Winter Park Water Provider: Denver Water Businesses: Aspen Skiing Company BP America Brown and Caldwell

Businesses, continued: Continuum Partners EcoBuild Gifford Ewing Photography Holland & Hart Intrawest Colorado New Belgium Brewing Company Renewable Energy Choices RBI Strategy & Research

Businesses, continued: Roche Colorado Sun Electric Systems Vail Resorts Westcliffe Publishers Wild Oats Natural Markets Wright Water Engineers

Nonprofit organizations: Audubon Colorado Boulder Community Hospital Colorado Association for Recycling Colorado Association of Ski Towns Colorado Conservation Trust National Wildlife Federation Nature Conservancy of Colorado Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

Nonprofit organizations, continued: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Western Resource Advocates

Our motivation: This is a special place to live, work, and play. Let’s keep it that way.

The Colorado Climate Project Bringing Coloradans together to reduce our contributions and our vulnerabilities to climate change.

The Colorado Climate Project Patterned after state government projects (including Arizona, New Mexico, Montana) Differences: Undertaken by a nonprofit organization. Addressing vulnerability and adaptation, especially with respect to water.

We face a choice here between a bleaker and a better future. Left unchecked, climate disruption here will mean: More heat Less snow Less available water More drought

Impact #1: More Heat Observed Annual Temperature Anomaly Source: Dr. Martin Hoerling, NOAA

Impact #1: More Heat Projected Change in Annual Temperature Source: Dr. Martin Hoerling, NOAA

Impact #1: More Heat Rocky Mountain Climate Organization analysis of NOAA data

Impact #4: More Drought Projected Change in Palmer Drought Index Source: Dr. Martin Hoerling, NOAA

At the same time, Colorado’s need for water is projected to increase by 53% by Statewide Water Supply Initiative Colorado Department of Natural Resources

Case Study: Colorado River A recent “best-case” projection of climate- change impacts in the Colorado River basin: By ºF more heat. (Modest increase!) 24% less snow. 3% less precipitation. 36% less water storage. Christensen at al., in Climatic Change (2004)

The Colorado Climate Project: Goal: Reduce Colorado ’ s contribution and vulnerability to climate change. What we do here matters. Compared to the world ’ s 212 nations, Colorado emits more carbon dioxide from fossil fuels than 174 nations do. Plus we have a lot at stake! A Better Future

Colorado & US Emissions By Sector, Year 2000

Gross Colorado GHG Emissions By Sector,

Colorado Emissions Growth (MMtCO2e Basis)

Colorado Climate Project Meetings from Nov – Sept Emissions inventory and forecast. Cost-benefit analysis and technical support from Center for Climate Strategies. Open, public process. No pre-determined outcomes.

Project Directors John Hickenlooper, Democratic mayor of Denver Steve Burkholder, Republican mayor of Lakewood Doug Hutchinson, Republican mayor of Fort Collins Tom Long, Republican county commissioner, Summit County

Project Directors, continued Matt Baker, Environment Colorado Gary Hart, CU-Denver Gail Klapper, Colorado Forum Al Yates, Colorado State University (retired)

Climate Action Panel 34 members, including 3 co-chairs: Joe Broz, vice president, Midwest Research Institute (NREL) Eric Kuhn, manager, Colorado River Water Conservation District Dan McClendon, manager, Delta-Montrose Electric Association

Policy Work Groups Comprised of Climate Action Panel members and an additional 70 people: Energy Supply Residential/Commercial/Industrial Transportation/Land Use Agriculture/Forestry/Waste Cross-Cutting Issues Water Adaptation

Climate Action Panel Decisions reached September 12. Final analysis and write-up to be completed. Project Directors reviewed for approval. Presentation to state government, local governments, utilities, water providers, others.

Panel Recommendations 70 recommendations: 55 to reduce greenhouse gases 15 to prepare for and deal with changes. 61 unanimous approval 7 super-majority approval 2 simple majority approval

Panel Recommendations Statewide emission reduction goals: To be set by the Governor “In the vicinity of” 20% below 2005 levels by 2020, and 80% below 2005 levels by goal equals 37% below projected levels in 2020

Panel Recommendations 55 recommendations to reduce emissions: 33 analyzed quantitatively: Would achieve 3/4 of the 2020 goal 30 analyzed for cost-effectiveness: Would save about $2.6 billion by 2020

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions (million metric tons of CO2 equivalent) Actual/Forecast GHG Emissions Total GHG Reductions from Climate Action Panel Projected Emissions After Quantified CAP Reductions Target Recommended by CAP (20% below 2005) Target Compared to Actual/Forecast Emissions -20%-30% -37%

Panel Recommendations Increase Renewable Portfolio Standard to 30% for investor-owned utilities and 15% for cooperatives and municipal utilities. New power plants and those 60 years old must be as clean as new natural gas plant. Reduce emissions in oil & gas operations. Programs and incentives to reduce consumer energy use 1% per year Establish inverted block rates

Panel Recommendations Reduce energy use in state and local government buildings. Upgrade state energy code for new construction. Achieve beyond-code reductions in energy use in new construction. Expand renewable energy use. Smart growth land use planning Mass transit expansion

Panel Recommendations Adoption of California emission limits for new cars and trucks. Low-carbon standard for vehicle fuels. Incentives for ethanol and biodiesel production. Forest thinning used for energy production. Comprehensive local government plans. Education and outreach for voluntary actions.

Panel Recommendations Waste Management Recommendations: Source reduction, enhanced recycling, and composting programs  Divert 75% of wastes from landfilling by 2020  Education and public involvement  Technical assistance  Economic support  Possible increased landfill surcharges

Panel Recommendations Waste Management Recommendations: Landfill methane reduction programs  Reduce methane emissions 50% from BAU by 2020,  Gas to energy projects, flaring, source reduction  Methane reduction plans for each landfill, with state technical/financial assistance

The Colorado Climate Project More information: