DENVER—Global warming pollution in Colorado increased by 38% between 1990 and 2004, according to The Carbon Boom,
a new analysis of state fossil fuel consumption data released today by
the Environment Colorado. This is the first time that 2004
state-by-state data on carbon dioxide emissions has been released.
“Colorado’s
jump in carbon pollution is the fifth highest in the country,” said
Environment Colorado Executive Director Matt Baker. “Given the
implications of global warming for our state, we should be leading the
country in decreasing carbon pollution– not increasing it.”
Colorado
also ranked fifth in the nation for overall percentage increase of
carbon pollution from the transportation sector, which accounts for
more than 30% of total carbon pollution in Colorado.
“This report is a wake-up call to cut pollution levels now before it is too late. Colorado’s
first step is to set hard goals for cutting carbon pollution overall,
our second step is to cut carbon pollution from cars,” continued Baker.
“Colorado is responsible for more carbon pollution than 175 entire nations.”
Environment Colorado’s
report comes less than a week after the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change, a United Nations body charged with assessing the
scientific record on global warming, released its consensus report on
the current and projected impacts of global warming, including
increased droughts, floods, heat waves, water stress, and forest fires
in the West.
“The
science tells us that we are in a hole, and we need to stop digging,”
said Baker. “Yet even as scientists are sounding alarms that we must
rapidly reduce pollution to protect future generations, global warming
pollution here in Colorado continues to skyrocket.
Some cities in Colorado, such as Denver,
have taken notice at the growing increase in carbon pollution and are
taking action. "The predicted impacts of climate change in the
southwestern U.S.
are particularly concerning to us," said Gregg Thomas, the
Environmental Assessment and Policy supervisor in the Denver Department
of Environmental Health. "Local governments around the country realize
that action needs to be taken now,” continued Thomas, “which is why 435
U.S. mayors, including Mayor Hickenlooper, have signed on to the U.S.
Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. Denver, through its Greenprint Denver Initiative, is actively working toward reducing its carbon footprint."
Using
data compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy, Environment Colorado’s
new report examines trends in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel
consumption between 1990 and 2004, the most recent year for which
state-by-state data is available.
Major findings of the report include:
• Colorado’s
carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption grew from 65.8
million metric tons to 91.4 million metric tons between 1990 and 2004,
an increase of 39%. Colorado’s emissions grew faster than all but four states.
• Nationwide,
emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel consumption increased by
18% between 1990 and 2004. Coal-fired power plants and the
transportation sector—especially cars and SUVs—drove this emissions
increase.
• Colorado
had the nation’s fifth highest increase in carbon dioxide emissions
from burning gasoline (primarily in cars and SUVs). These emissions
increased by 51% between 1990 and 2004, rising from 14.5 million metric
tons to 18.5 million metric tons. Between 1990 and 2004 vehicle miles
traveled in Colorado increased by 69%, while cars and SUVs became less efficient. Colorado had the third highest increase in vehicle miles traveled in the country.
“The
good news is we can make progress. In March, Governor Ritter increased
the Amendment 37 renewable energy goals. This will reduce carbon
dioxide emissions by 11% in 2020,” said Matt Baker.
Colorado
could substantially reduce its global warming pollution by using
existing technologies to make power plants, businesses, homes, and cars
more efficient and increasing the use of clean, renewable energy
sources, such as wind and solar power.
“Colorado needs to be a leader, not a laggard, in protecting the Climate,” said Baker. “Colorado should follow the examples of New Mexico and Arizona and set strong science based goals to reduce carbon emissions.”
At
the federal level, the Safe Climate Act (H.R. 1590), introduced by
Representative Henry Waxman (CA) in the House, and the Global Warming
Pollution Reduction Act (S. 309), introduced by Senators Bernie Sanders
(VT) and Barbara Boxer (CA) in the Senate, would limit global warming
pollution to levels that current science says are needed to prevent the
worst effects of global warming. The bills would freeze U.S. global warming emissions in 2010 and reduce emissions by about 15% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050.
“To protect future generations, our leaders must take decisive action to cut global warming pollution. Environment Colorado
calls on our congressional delegation to join Congresswoman Diana
DeGette in co-sponsoring the only bill that does what scientists say we
need to do,” concluded Baker.
