Meeting the Governor’s challenge to stop global warming

Media Releases

Environment Colorado

Denver – Last month, the Governor set a statewide goal for cutting global warming pollution 20 percent by 2020. Environment Colorado’s A Blueprint for Action: Meeting Colorado’s Goals for Reducing Global Warming Pollution describes sixteen policies that will achieve that goal and get us on a solid path to reaching the goal of an 80 percent reduction by 2050.

“In November, Governor Bill Ritter set a challenge for Colorado, asking that we all play a part in addressing global warming. The Blueprint for Action shows how every sector of Colorado’s economy can contribute to meeting that challenge,” said Keith Hay, Energy Advocate for Environment Colorado.

According to a summer 2007 poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, a national Republican polling firm, 77 percent of Colorado voters favor cutting global warming pollution one-third below current emissions by the year 2020, showing strong support for both Governor Ritter’s plan and for the policies, such as those outlined in A Blueprint for Action, that will get us to those goals.

 “The latest scientific findings make it clear that climate change is a mounting crisis that our generation must address,” said Dr. Chuck Kutscher, Researcher and Past Chair of the American Solar Energy Society. “The State of Colorado has been a leader in the pursuit of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies that can reduce our carbon dioxide emissions and decrease our dependence on foreign oil. This new report from Environment Colorado lays out a series of practical measures that can fight global warming pollution and grow our state’s economy. It provides many specific options for helping us meet the goals of the Governor’s Climate Action Plan.”

According to the report some of the key policies for reducing emissions include:

  • Increasing the amount of renewable energy that we use
  • Strengthening building codes
  • Making Colorado’s energy cleaner
  • Adopting the Clean Cars Program
  • Creating a clean fuels program

“If we are going to make series cuts in our state’s global warming pollution, we need to look at the sources of that pollution,” Hay said. “The Blueprint is a set of solutions. It provides a path to cutting pollution from both electricity generation and transportation, while showing how we can reduce demand for energy through increased efficiency.”

Electricity generation is a leading contributor of global warming pollution and is responsible for contributing 47% of carbon dioxide emissions in our state  . Making Colorado’s energy cleaner will cut global warming pollution by roughly one-third of the goals set out in the governor’s climate action plan.

“Governor Ritter continues to demonstrate strong leadership by setting sound goals for carbon reduction,” said Craig Cox of the Interwest Energy Alliance. “Renewable energy, especially wind and utility-scale solar power, will play an important role in cutting Colorado’s global warming pollution and building the renewable energy economy.”

Transportation is the second leading cause of global warming pollution in the state. The Blueprint shows that adopting a Clean Cars Program and making fuels cleaner would cut global warming pollution by 5.4 million metric tons in 2020, or 3 percent of the 20 percent goal in the Governor’s Climate Action Plan.

“This Blueprint shows how combating global warming can save consumers money, promote energy security and improve our air quality.” said Hay. “We can meet our goals for cutting global warming pollution while improving our quality of lives.”

Additional Contacts

Craig Cox, Interwest Energy Alliance

303-679-9331

*Note: Dr. Charles Kutcher can be reached via email at [email protected].