Climate

ACTIONS:

County Commissioner, District 1, Carrie Warren-Gully (term ending Jan. 2029, carrie4commissioner.com)

Addressing growth and responsible development including the need for affordable housing is a priority of mine along with colleagues. Water being one of our most vital and limited resources, is of course at the forefront. That’s why in 2023, we began a water supply study to plan for current and forthcoming needs to inform our land use decisions and help effectively manage growth. The study will recommend ways to use water more efficiently, allow us to pinpoint any potential shortages, and suggest revisions to the land development code. We will continue to host public meetings and information sessions this year.

Additionally, we have been working on decreasing emissions by exploring using electric vehicles across our operations, mitigating traffic flow issues to reduce emissions, and developing new roadway features with acceleration and deceleration lanes, signal improvements, and safer pedestrian access.

Finally, we have been advocating for protecting our parks and open spaces, most notably the High Line Canal, and we are pushing for increased investment to create multi-modal and public transit options in our communities as we are committed to leaving a clean and healthy environment for future generations to come.

U.S. Representative, District 6, Jason Crow (term ending Jan. 2027, jasoncrowforcongress.com)

Notably, Rep. Crow's Military Installation Resilience Assuredness (MIRA) Act, which improves the security and resilience of military installations that are vulnerable to the damaging effects of extreme weather and climate change, was incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020. The MIRA Act establishes a baseline for understanding the threat of extreme weather to military installations by requiring them to include assessments of weather vulnerabilities and mitigation efforts. It also nearly doubles the number of bases that are required to make master plans assessing the threat, including Buckley Air Force Base in Crow's district. Finally, the bill would recognize authoritative sources for data for extreme weather projection. By understanding the threat, we can better equip our military to handle our changing environment helping save taxpayers money, improve our military readiness, and - most importantly - protect service members.

In the NDAA Rep. Crow made the following provisions:

Address the DOD use of PFAS by:

  • Banning the use of PFAS in fire fighting agents by 2024 and requiring the development of a safe alternative;

  • Prohibiting the use of fire fighting agents that contain PFAS/PFOA when not necessary to respond to an actual emergency

  • Mandating that DOD adheres to the strictest state drinking water standards.

  • Making DOD More Efficient and Resilient to Climate Change.

  • Provide $100 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative(REPI) to continue land conservation and community cooperation efforts across the country, mirroring the gold-standard set by the work at Buckley Air Force Base.

Rep. Crow initiated The Sustainable Power Initiative, an effort to bring together military, economic, defense, energy, and environmental leaders to discuss how to improve energy efficiency and environmental resiliency at the Department of Defense, the largest consumer of energy in the world.

The Initiative comes as climate change, overdependence on fossil fuels, and aging military infrastructure have left the U.S. military and national security apparatus vulnerable. In recent years, extreme weather events have resulted in billions spent on base repairs, such as $3.6 billion for Camp Lejeune following Hurricane Florence. In Iraq and Afghanistan, it is estimated that 52 percent of wartime casualties occurred during land transport missions - predominantly taken to assist with fuel resupply, a result of the military's dependence on fossil fuels.

Rep. Crow introduced an amendment to the Climate Action Now Act which reaffirms the Department of Defense's goal to secure renewable energy across military installations and operations, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support military readiness efforts in the face of climate change.

A member of the Readiness and Intelligence, Emerging Threats, and Capabilities subcommittees, Rep. Crow has focused on the impact of climate change on national security.

Taking Real Climate Action: Climate change poses an immediate and rising threat, especially for those most vulnerable. That’s why I helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act — the single largest investment in clean energy and climate action in US history. I am continuing to push hard for climate justice to protect those most vulnerable.

Colorado Attorney General, Phil Weiser (term ending Jan. 2027, coag.gov)

The Colorado Department of Law is committed to preserving and protecting one of Colorado’s greatest assets: our natural resources. Colorado appreciates that we must protect our land, air, and water as well as pave the way for a clean energy future for ourselves—and for our children.

Land

The Department of Law ensures that recreational users and developers alike follow environmental regulations that protect our public lands. Talented attorneys and staff in the Natural Resources & Environment Section (NRE) work with client agencies to ensure the responsible use and development of Colorado’s natural resources.

Air

Defending every Coloradan’s right to clean air means protecting effective regulations. The Attorney General supports and defends laws that ensures a clean energy future. Attorneys in the NRE section also collaborate with agencies like the Air Quality Control Commission and the Air Pollution Control Division on various rule makings to protect our air quality, including Colorado’s national model rules governing methane emissions.

Water

Colorado is home to 158 named rivers, over 5,500 natural streams and tributaries, and countless lakes and ponds. In Colorado, the agricultural economy, tourism industry, and our quality of life rely greatly on water. Through collaborative leadership, we will work with and through other agencies—such as the Colorado Water Conservation Board—to protect Colorado’s water, keep our commitments to our neighboring states, and avoid future “buy and dry” scenarios that destroy the lifeblood of entire agricultural communities.

City of Littleton (littletonco.gov)

The City of Littleton’s currently climate programs are at littletonco.gov Government, City-Services, Green Environmental Programs with programs such as Christmas Tree recycling, Spring Tree program, Community Gardens, and more.

POSITIONS:

State House of Representative, HD38 Gretchen Rydin (term ending Jan. 2027, gretchenforcolorado.com)

We need pragmatic, sustainable, and effective government policy, funding and commitment to address climate change—at the federal level, state level, and local level. That is why I support actions that include local Colorado municipalities expanding tree canopies, Colorado’s state initiative setting science-based greenhouse emissions reduction targets, and the federal Inflation Reduction Act’s proposed 270,000 plus new green energy jobs.

Climate change impacts regions, states, and communities in disproportional ways. Environmental injustice, including the proliferation of climate change, systematically impacts communities of color and low-income communities in the U.S. Elected officials, working in partnership with the private sector, must ensure that the distribution of resources and actions are proportionately assigned.

We each have a role to play—water conservation, recycling, use alternative transportation—cycle, walk, take public transportation, adopt alternative energy solutions, encourage your place of employment to embrace green initiatives.

CU Board of Regents at large Elliott Hood (term ending Jan. 2011, hoodforcolorado.com)

Make CU more sustainable

I will push the university to become a more sustainable enterprise.

To start, we need address the climate crisis by setting ambitious and measurable targets for reducing our carbon emissions. As CU Regent, I will push the university system to set a goal of net zero emissions by 2050 and eliminating direct emissions by 2040.

To accomplish this goal, we will need to invest in clean, renewable energy sources for our buildings, divest from fossil fuel securities, and use our multi-billion procurement power to contract with green businesses.

We also need to better conserve water—our planet’s most precious natural resource—and protect our environment.

State House of Representatives, District 37 (HD37), Chad Clifford (term ending Jan. 2027, chadforcolorado.com)

My approach to the environment revolves around a commitment to sustainability, conservation, and equitable resource management. I believe that through a combination of sound policies, community engagement, and international cooperation, we can address environmental and water challenges for the benefit of current and future generations.

Air Quality:

Air quality in our area is some of the worst in the country - not every day, but enough to cause serious health issues.  Although much more can be accomplished to reduce pollution, one area we can impact quickly and efficiently is INDOOR AIR QUALITY.  I plan to support legislation in 2024 to support monitoring and cleaning the air we breathe.

Environmental Conservation:

Climate Change Mitigation: I advocate for robust measures to address climate change, including transitioning to renewable energy sources, reducing carbon emissions, and I support agreements focused on climate action.


Protecting Natural Habitats:

I support policies that preserve and protect natural ecosystems, endangered species, and biodiversity.


Water Rights and Management:

Equitable Distribution: I believe in ensuring equitable access to water resources for all communities, prioritizing sustainable use to meet the needs of both urban and rural areas.


Conservation Practices:

Promoting water conservation practices, efficient irrigation methods, and responsible agricultural water use are crucial components of my approach.

Policy Solutions:

Investing in Green Infrastructure: Supporting the development of green infrastructure projects, such as water reclamation systems and sustainable urban planning, to address both water and environmental challenges.


Legislation for Sustainable Practices:

Advocating for legislation that encourages sustainable practices in agriculture, industry, and everyday life, with a focus on reducing pollution and promoting environmentally friendly technologies.


Community Engagement:

Education and Outreach: I believe in engaging communities through education and outreach programs to raise awareness about environmental issues and water conservation, fostering a sense of collective responsibility.


Collaboration and Partnerships:

Public-Private Partnerships: Encouraging collaboration between government agencies, private enterprises, and non-profit organizations to find innovative solutions for environmental and water-related challenges.
International Cooperation: Recognizing that many environmental issues are global, I support diplomatic efforts to collaborate with other nations on shared environmental concerns.