Colorado Climate Project Tom Easley Director of Programs The Rocky Mountain Climate Organization easley@ rockymontainclimate.org
Colorado Climate Project Tom Easley Director of Programs The Rocky Mountain Climate Organization easley@ rockymontainclimate.org.
Dec 24, 2015
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Colorado Climate ProjectTom EasleyDirector of ProgramsThe Rocky Mountain Climate Organization
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.
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 heatLess snowLess available waterMore drought
Impact #1: More Heat
Observed Annual Temperature Anomaly 2000-2006
Source: Dr. Martin Hoerling, NOAA
Impact #1: More Heat
Projected Change in Annual Temperature 2035-2060
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 2035-2060
Source: Dr. Martin Hoerling, NOAA
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
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 2050
• 2020 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)
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%
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:
www.coloradoclimate.org
www.rockymountainclimate.org
Related Documents
