What are some climate change-related impacts that Colorado is experiencing?
Please note: I am not a scientist, so my descriptions are simplified. For a more accurate understanding, please review the attached sources.
- Snowpack Reduction: The snow in the mountains is crucial for Colorado’s water supply. Warming temperatures have led to premature melting and reduced snowpack, resulting in less water for reservoirs. Some key points:
- 93% of snowpack sources on the western slope have declined.
- Snowpack has decreased by 23% between 1955 and 2022.
- Wildfires: All five of Colorado’s most destructive wildfires have occurred since 2012. The increase in destructive wildfires is linked to climate change. The Third Climate Assessment has detailed this link further—more information can be found here.
- Wildlife: Climate change impacts on Colorado’s wildlife are complex and interconnected. Some examples include:
- Decreasing pika populations. To learn more about The Colorado Pika Project, click here. These little guys are so cute, I am glad there are efforts going out to research and protect them!
- This is way less cute, and way more gross, but bark beetle activity has changed and climate change is linked to it. Read more about it here.
- Black Bears are hibernating for less time as temperature increases. In fact, Colorado Parks & Wild Life researchers found that “For every 1°C increase in winter minimum temperatures, bears reduced hibernation by an average of 6 days.”
- Again, way more examples can be found but those stuck out to me when I was researching.
- Extreme Heat: Extreme Heat: Colorado has experienced an increase in high heat waves in recent decades, and the average temperature across the state has warmed by 2.3°F. More information can be found here.
- Additionally, there have been reports of record-level droughts, increased flooding, and other climate-related impacts in recent years.
Big oil & gas in Colorado:
- Chevron is buying up smaller companies making them the largest producer/owner/supplier in Colorado
- Colorado ranks 8th for oil production nationally
- Colorado ranks 10th for oil production nationally
- Production by county:
- #1 Weld
- #2 Garfield County
- #3 Montezuma County
- #4 Broomfield County
- #5 La Planta County
- #6 Adams County
- #7 Arapahoe County
- #8 Larimer County
- #9 Rio Blanco County
- #10 Cheyenne County
Best coverage of environmental issues/climate change I have seen:
Colorado Public Radio:
- Online articles
- Podcasts:
- Purplish has episodes and updates on legislation surrounding climate change and the environment: “Purplish is CPR News’ podcast about state politics, state government, elections and political identity. Hosted by public affairs reporters Bente Birkeland, Andrew Kenney and Caitlyn Kim.”
- Colorado Matters: “Hosted by Ryan Warner and Chandra Thomas Whitfield, CPR News’ daily interview show focuses on the state’s people, issues and ideas.”
- “Terra Firma is a podcast about the outdoors, the sounds of the natural world and our place in it. Each episode runs about 5-10 minutes and pairs reflections on nature with gorgeous soundscapes collected in wild places. Terra Firma unites stories and musings by CMarie Fuhrman, a Colorado-born, Indigenous poet and writer, with audio gathered by outdoor sound recordist Jacob Job.”
- Parched is a 10 episode series: “The southwestern United States has been in a drought for more than 20 years. It’s created a serious problem for the Colorado River, and tens of millions of people in the region. Parched is a podcast about people who rely on the river that shaped the West – and have ideas to save it. Hosted by Michael Elizabeth Sakas, a climate and environment reporter for CPR News.”
- So a lot of you probably don’t remember this as I didn’t because I am a young millennial, but in 2004 Colorado voters approved a massive rail project… that never happened. There is a lot of reasons why but this mini series, Ghost Train, explains why the project hasn’t happened, and this Colorado Public Radio “Purplish” episode explains why this could be a reality still.
The Colorado Sun:
- Online articles:
Colorado Politics:
The “groups doing good” section below also has great coverage as well so be sure to check out their blogs/resources!
Here are some legislative wins in recent years:
- Colorado is ramping up its electric vehicle (EV) requirements for car manufacturing companies. By the model year 2032, 82% of the cars on the lot are required to be electric. You can read more about this initiative here.
- The “Clean Energy Plan Act” outlines requirements for entities in Colorado to submit clean energy plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity sales, in an effort to reduce pollution. The bill was signed into law by Governor Polis.
- Last year, legislators passed and Governor Polis signed a law that created the Colorado River Drought Task Force. The task force completed its job and provided extensive recommendations extensive recommendations to lawmakers and the Polis administration. Now, a bill that would implement several of the task force’s recommendations has passed the Senate and is on its way to the House in the Colorado General Assembly. The best part is, this bill is extremely bipartisan and should clear the governor’s desk without issue.
Here are some legislation to call your reps about currently:
SB24-207 – Access to Distributed Generation
“Concerning access to distributed energy, and, in connection therewith, establishing requirements for the development of inclusive community solar capacity that investor-owned electric utilities must make available to utility customers and requiring the acquisition of distributed generation facilities paired with energy storage.
On or after January 1, 2026, but before February 1, 2026, an investor-owned electric utility (utility) with more than 500,000 customers must make at least 50 megawatts of inclusive community solar capacity available, and a utility with 500,000 or fewer customers must make at least 4 megawatts of inclusive community solar available.”
Read more here.
HB24-1339 – Disproportionately Impact Community Air Pollution
“Concerning measures to be taken by the air quality control commission to reduce air pollution in the state.
Under current law, the air quality control commission (commission) consists of 9 members. As of October 1, 2024, section 2 of the bill increases the membership of the commission to 11 members to include:
- One member who represents a disproportionately impacted community and the interests of communities of color and who does not derive income from an entity that the commission regulates; and
- One climate scientist employed by an organization that does not derive income from an entity that the commission regulates.”
Read more here.
SB24-166 – Air Quality Enforcement
“Concerning measures to increase the enforcement of violations that impact the environment.”
Read more here.
There are so many more bills bouncing around the Colorado General Assembly, but those are ones that are sticking out to me right now.
Here are groups doing good:
Conservation Colorado: “We work to protect Colorado’s climate, air, land, water, and communities through organizing, advocacy, and elections. Protecting our environment means preserving what we love about Colorado. Our stunning mountains, open vistas, and rushing rivers inspire us and connect us to the majesty of nature. Unfortunately, our amazing state faces grave threats.
Powerful interests are constantly pushing to put pollution and profit over public health. We are at the front lines working to protect the air, land, water, and people across our state. For over 50 years, we’ve worked with communities statewide to ensure that our quality of life and our environment are protected. We work to elect pro-conservation leaders to public office and then hold our decision makers accountable to move Colorado forward in protecting our environment.”
“Great Old Broads for Wilderness (lol yes, you read that right) is a women-led national grassroots organization that engages and inspires activism to preserve and protect wilderness and wild lands.
Conceived by older women who love wilderness, Broads gives voice to the millions of Americans who want to protect their public lands and wilderness for this and future generations. We bring knowledge, leadership, and humor to the wilderness preservation movement. And, we’re educating communities about the critical connection between healthy public lands and climate change mitigation.”
If you’re still here, congratulations…
If you’re still here, that is amazing because this was a lot. I do hope you enjoyed the information and found it helpful or at the very least interesting. Now, Happy Earth Day Colorado! Go hug a tree outside and call your legislators <3
Read more about what is going on in Colorado here!
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