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

Colorado Climate ProjectTom EasleyDirector of ProgramsThe Rocky Mountain Climate Organization

[email protected]

ROCKY MOUNTAINCLIMATEOrganization

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.


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 heatLess snowLess available waterMore drought

Impact #1: More Heat

Observed Annual Temperature Anomaly 2000-2006

Source: Dr. Martin Hoerling, NOAA


Projected Change in Annual Temperature 2035-2060



Rocky Mountain Climate Organization analysis of NOAA data

Impact #4: More Drought

Projected Change in Palmer Drought Index 2035-2060


At the same time, Colorado’s need for water is projected to increase by 53% by 2030.

Statewide Water Supply InitiativeColorado Department of Natural

Resources

Case Study: Colorado River

A recent “best-case” projection of climate-change impacts in the Colorado River basin:

By 2010-2039 --

1.8ºF 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

Transport26%

Industrial Process

5%

Res/Com Fuel Use

9%

Fossil Fuel Ind. (CH4) 3%

Industrial Fuel Use

14%

Waste4%

Electricity32%

Agric.7%

US

Gross Colorado GHG Emissions By Sector, 1990-2020

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1990 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

MM

tCO

2e

Electricity (Consumption Based) Fossil Fuel IndustryRCI Fuel Use Transportation Gasoline UseTransportation Diesel Use Jet Fuel/Other TransportationAgriculture ODS SubstitutesOther Ind. Process Waste Management

Colorado Emissions Growth(MMtCO2e Basis)

-2.0 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0

Electricity (Consumption Based)

RCI Fuel Use

Fossil Fuel Industry

Transportation

ODS Substitutes (HFCs)

Other Ind. Process

Agriculture

Waste Management

MMtCO2e

2005 - 2020

1990 - 2005

Colorado Climate Project

Meetings from Nov. 2006 – Sept. 2007.

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


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 2050

• 2020 goal equals 37% below projected levels in 2020


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)

1990 2000 2005 2012 2020Actual/Forecast GHG Emissions 86.1 109.6 116.1 132.8 147.6

Total GHG Reductions from Climate Action Panel -10.7 -41.3

Projected Emissions After Quantified CAP Reductions 122.2 106.3

Target Recommended by CAP (20% below 2005) 92.9

2020 Target Compared to Actual/Forecast Emissions -20% -30% -37%


• 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


• 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


• 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.


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

•


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


More information:

www.coloradoclimate.org

www.rockymountainclimate.org

[email protected]

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

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