Record heat and fires are the backdrop for a climate stabilization plan

These aren't the kind of records that anyone is proud of: Denver hit a new high mark for 25 days over 90 degrees in August, Boulder had 18; the active Pine Gulch Fire is the largest wildfire in Colorado history. Last week, ozone levels were "extraordinary," according to Boulder County Public Health, a mix of pollution from fossil fuels and smoke from wildfires. And, as of last week, more than 93% of the state was in severe, extreme or exceptional drought.

Climate change is getting personal. That's how Susie Strife describes it. She's the Director of Sustainability, Climate Action & Resilience for Boulder County. "When it's personal, and you see what's happening, you want to do something about it."

None of these issues are new to Colorado, but they're getting worse and more tangible for individuals and communities, according to research outlined on Boulder County's web page on climate change.

"This is the issue of our time, of our lifetime. I know coronavirus is a crisis. We're in a crisis in a larger crisis, which is the climate crisis," Strife said.

Climate instability is becoming more expensive for local taxpayers and taking a toll on people and the natural world. In a video on the climate change web page, Boulder County Commissioner Elise Jones gave an example of increasing costs, estimating that road maintenance costs will go up due to high heat, costing tens of millions of dollars over the next several decades. That's based on $600 per mile, per year, for 1,400 miles of roads in the county.

Boulder County has long been putting programs and policies in place to do what it can to stabilize the climate. But it recognizes that this is not an issue that a single local government can solve on its own. That's why the county commissioners recently adopted a climate action plan as part of a larger coalition of communities around the state.

The organization, Colorado Communities for Climate Action or CC4CA was envisioned by Boulder County and the city of Boulder four years ago. The two governments hoped that other communities would join them and amplify their voices and impact on a state level.

That wish is coming true. CC4CA now has 34 local governments, an executive director and a small staff that is pushing the state toward policies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help Colorado communities transition to clean energy.

The governments that joined the coalition are from from the Western Slope to the Front Range - communities that are geographically, economically and culturally diverse. They are facing a variety of climate impacts including wildfires, unpredictable snow and rain, snowpack melting earlier and other issues. But all of their concerns fall under a common goal to stabilize a climate that is getting hotter and more volatile, according to a consensus of published climate scientists.

"It is remarkable, because what we're saying is we, as communities, are going to band together," Strife said. "They're issues that are serious enough that they want to be part of an organization that advocates. Whether we are dealing with high heat, fire, drought, we're all in this together. We're a force to be reckoned with."

CC4CA's annual policy agenda is unanimously agreed upon by all the members who then take the agenda home to get approval from governing bodies, which is what the Boulder County Commissioners did last month.

Strife and George Twigg, policy analyst for the Boulder County Commissioners, gave a presentation to the commissioners in August, highlighting last year's accomplishments and this year's goals. Strife said CC4CA helped pass bills on clean air and renewable energy and helped defeat bills that threatened adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy.

Twigg said the current agenda includes a focus on beneficial electrification, which is converting buildings from fossil fuel appliances to clean electric ones, support for ongoing weatherization funding and renewable energy assistance to low income Coloradoans, including those from coal dominated communities. "We want to make sure no one is left behind as we transition away from fossil fuel economy to renewables," Twigg said.

The commissioners approved the plan unanimously. "I really appreciate calling it out about equity and the just transitions piece," said Commissioner Deb Gardner, "so that communities don't get left behind that are dependent on coal, in the one instance, but oil and gas will become an issue as well."

"There is such a challenge with climate action," said Commissioner Matt Jones. "Those are very aggressive goals. Having this organization down at the state to push and change policy is just a great thing. I appreciate the commissioners for setting that up and [am] proud to be part of it."