Gov. John Hickenlooper signed the executive order Tuesday for Colorado to join the Paris Climate Agreement Tuesday at Red Rocks. The document pledges for the state to reduce greenhouse gases 26 percent by 2025 compared to those levels set in 2005. Many of the nearly 100,000 people in the state employed by the outdoor recreational industry and the recipients of the $1 billion in sales taxes generated from it would probably agree.
This comes after President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement which aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2020 to combat forecasted changes in the earth’s climate that could be harmful or even catastrophic for humans.
Gov. Hickenlooper also says Colorado will work with Nevada and Utah to make it easier to drive electric cars from the West all the way to the Pacific Coast.
HERE IS THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT colorado.gov:
DENVER — Tuesday, July 11, 2017 — Gov. John Hickenlooper today signed an executive order committing the state to climate action. He also announced that Colorado will join the U.S. Climate Alliance.
“Coloradans value clean air and clean water. Our strong economy is a reflection of how our exhilarating outdoors attracts young entrepreneurs and the talent they need for their businesses,” said Governor John Hickenlooper. “The vast majority of our residents, and indeed the country, expect us to help lead the way toward a clean and affordable energy future. In this process, we no doubt can address climate change while keeping a priority on household budgets.”
The executive order declares it to be the goal of the State of Colorado to achieve the following:
- Reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by more than 26 percent from 2005 levels by 2025;
- Reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector by 25 percent by 2025 and 35 percent by 2030 from 2012 levels; and
- Achieve electricity savings of two percent of total electricity sales per year by 2020.
Colorado also is committing to:
- Work strategically with any interested utility or electric cooperative on a voluntary basis to maximize use of renewable energy without increasing costs to taxpayers;
- Create a statewide electric vehicle plan by January 1, 2018;
- Develop a greenhouse gas emissions tracking rule through the Department of Public Health and Environment;
- Identify opportunities to partner with local governments on locally-led climate resilience actions;
- Institutionalize the state’s greening government initiative;
- Formalize and expand upon cross-agency actions to provide economic development strategies and other supportive services to communities impacted by the changing energy landscape, and submit a written annual report detailing those efforts and accomplishments;
- Incorporate the emissions reductions goals into the Colorado Climate Plan and solicit stakeholder input regarding additional measures or strategies to advance these goals.
To view the complete executive order, click here.
