2009-2012

350 Colorado forms as an independent state affiliate of 350.org, a global organization building a movement to solve the climate crisis. Our local teams begin growing the movement with global days of action, marches, teach-ins, and rallies across the state. We organize the “Snowless Ski Race” in Aspen. In 2012, Bill McKibben joins us for the “Do the Math Tour” launching fossil fuel divestment campaigns at institutions and universities across CO and the nation.

|

2013

We decide to become a nonprofit organization to better support local 350 teams around the state and to more effectively address how Colorado contributes to and can help solve the climate crisis. In 2013, we continue growing our group of local teams and also organize the Forward on Climate March in Denver.

|

2014

350 Colorado receives 501c3 status! Together, we stand up against the KXL pipeline and our elected leaders follow. 350 Boulder County spearheads the Edible Landscapes Working Group, harvesting over 10,000 pounds of fruit that would otherwise be wasted. 350 Central Colorado organizes a Forum on Climate, Energy, and Building a Resilient Community. 

|

2015

 We host our first Colorado Climate Leadership workshop for aspiring and veteran climate activists across the state. Together with our coalition partners, we launch Coloradans Against Fracking, elevating the issue by organizing the Stop the Frack Attack March & hosting our first “Fracking Tour” of Weld and Larimer Counties. Our “Fossil Free Your Life” garden party educates hundreds of Boulder residents on ways to transition off fossil fuels. 

|

2016

Local organizers help build critical public support that leads to the rejection of the KXL pipeline nationally. The City of Boulder commits to 100% renewable energy, followed by dozens of others. 350CO and allies organize Break Free From Fossil Fuels, over 1,000 people participate and 50 risk arrest to stop auctioning public lands and waters for oil and gas development. Volunteers gather 215,000 signatures on statewide petitions in an effort to place initiatives on the 2016 ballot to protect our communities from fracking.

|

2017

Over 8,000 people demand climate justice despite blizzard conditions at the People’s Climate March in Denver. Our volunteers lead a successful grassroots campaign that results in Colorado joining the U.S. climate alliance. 350CO local teams help pass local resolutions for green roofs in Denver and municipalization of Boulder’s energy grid. 350 Colorado Springs wins 100 megawatts of solar energy for the city. Board Member Leslie Weise wins The Colorado Independent’s 2017 Whistleblower award. 

|

2018

Hundreds of community members give over 50 hours of testimony and engage in civil disobedience at Colorado Oil and Gas Commission hearings. Our volunteers dedicate thousands of hours to help Prop 112 receive over 1.2 million votes, despite being outspent 40:1 by oil and gas. The Colorado Climate Justice Platform and Summit help make climate change a top issue during Colorado’s general election. 

|

2019

Our collective efforts including a petition to Gov. Polis, hours of testimony at the state Capitol, and hundreds of letters sent to legislators help to pass dozens of climate bills including SB19-181 (Colorado’s first-ever bill aimed to restrict oil and gas production in CO). Our 350 Metro Denver team successfully persuades the City of Denver to divest $180M from fossil fuels. We co-lead the Colorado Climate Strike Coalition, recruiting over 10,000 strikers, 30+ strike events, and even host world-renowned climate activist Greta Thunberg.

|

2020

Through the pandemic, 350 Colorado remained committed to action to solve the climate crisis. We moved our events to social-distanced, online activities and hosted over 140 actions or events, with over 10,000 participants! We supported Earth Day Live, a three-day global virtual event with over 4 million participants. We launched a massive Get Out the Vote effort, our volunteers reached over 97,000 likely environmental voters to help them make it to the polls. Our volunteers and staff attended every AQCC and COGCC regulatory hearing and secured statewide 2,000′ setbacks from oil and gas wells to homes & schools. After years of campaigning, our 350 Colorado Springs team secured a just transition off coal in Colorado Springs, with early closures for two dirty coal plants! Boulder became the first county in the nation to screen insurance carriers for ties to fossil fuels and passed the state’s strictest fracking regulations.

|

2021

350CO finished securing early closure for two urban coal-fired power plants with commitments for no job losses, developing a replicable model for local just transition off fossil fuels. Through campaigning with local communities, 350CO helped secure increased protections from fracking in six municipalities, including the strictest fracking regulations in the state in Boulder County, which prevented a 140-well mega-pad from being constructed near a high school. 350 CO also secured a Pitkin County fossil fuel divestment win – compelling Pitkin County’s Board of Commissioners to pass a formal prohibition against investing in fossil fuels, tobacco, and firearm companies, and to pursue responsible Environmental, Social and Governance investing. 

 

|

2022

In 2022, due to mobilizing public pressure from local communities through letters, petitions, legislative meetings and advocacy, and testimony at relevant state and local public hearings, 350CO played a lead role in securing the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation commission’s decision to formally deny the Kerr McGee oil and gas well plan proposed near homes in Firestone, Colorado, the COGCC’s first time to deny an oil and gas permit ever.

Through the rulemaking process at the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, we were able to ensure increased financial responsibilities for oil and gas operators,  through stakeholder engagement and formal testimony. Significant changes and protections from this rulemaking include ensuring oil and gas operators have financial capability to meet obligations, increased financial assurances for transferred and inactive oil and gas wells, the creation of an ‘orphan well fund,’ and broadened access for local governments regarding plugging of oil and gas wells. 

Also in 2022, 350CO’s Suncor Action Committee contributed heavily to securing the EPA’s decision to deny Suncor Oil Refinery’s Title V air quality permit renewal, expressing concern over environmental injustice toward Suncor’s neighbors. Previous to this permit proposal, Suncor’s plant 2 refinery had been operating on an expired permit for more than ten years. The EPA’s rejection of Suncor’s proposed permit cited cumulative pollution effects, non-attainment, and environmental justice issues.

|

2023

In 2023, 350 Colorado deepened grassroots climate action across the state, growing volunteer leadership, and taking bold steps toward a just transition away from fossil fuels. Through extensive tabling and outreach efforts, we added over 700 new volunteers to our system, averaging 63 new sign-ups per month.
Campaign highlights included leading the phase out fracking campaign and Safe & Healthy Colorado coalition effort to place a measure on the ballot, supporting efforts to shut down the Suncor refinery, with over 50 new committee members, 9 op-eds, and a major Reimagining Commerce City event focused on a justice-based transition. We co-hosted a Fracking & Pollution Action Tour with Earthworks and supported Viva Streets in Denver, while amplifying the impacts of oil and gas development statewide through events, media, and regulatory action. We also educate and mobilize our membership, coalition partners, key stakeholders, and potential campaign allies to promote the Fossil-Free PERA campaign.
At the local level, all active teams advanced critical campaigns. The Roaring Fork team helped delay the Uinta Basin Railway by three years, while the Northern Colorado team expanded its Divest CSU campaign and strengthened partnerships. Across teams, we hosted community celebrations like the Activist Banquet, re-launched Climate Lobby Day in person, and collectively raised thousands in grassroots funds.
Internally, we built stronger volunteer networks, and continued to foster a regenerative and inclusive organizing culture. From boosting communications to expanding training and leadership pipelines, we laid strong foundations for long-term climate impact and we’re ready to keep building in 2024!

|

2024

In 2024, 350 Colorado focused on building a stronger, more sustainable organization to power our climate work. We expanded and strengthened our team by hiring a full-time 3-team coordinator, a Roaring Fork Coordinator, and increasing hours and support for key staff roles.
We continued leading coalition efforts through the Safe & Healthy Colorado coalition to stop the expansion of fracking by 2030, including having the first ever legislation introduced, with over 100 people testifying in support. While the bill did not pass, it helped to build coalition support, and we supported passage of a study bill to support oil and gas workers in transition.
To better engage and retain volunteers, we launched regular welcome calls, updated onboarding systems, and hosted key events including Mid-Year Motivation, Climate Leadership Workshops, and our first Legislative Climate Hero Awards. Our committees focused on a variety of pressing issues, like promoting climate policy solutions, regenerative agriculture, addressing Suncor, defunding the climate disaster, taking legislative action, and encouraging a transition to renewable energy. Our board also grew in capacity and leadership, welcoming new members and updating essential policies to support strategic planning and fundraising.
Overall, 2024 was a year of investing in our people, systems, and culture, laying a strong foundation to sustain and grow the climate movement in Colorado for years to come.

|

AND SO MUCH MORE!