Please join us and allies this Thursday, Jan. 9th, at 12:00pm at the State Capitol East Lawn for a “State of the Climate” Press Conference & Rally happening after Gov. Polis delivers his State of the State speech kicking off the 2025 Colorado Legislative Session this week.
Let’s call on our state leaders for meaningful action, because Colorado is not on track to meet our climate and environmental justice goals. We need a rapid, just transition off fossil fuels to a clean energy future and to end permitting for new oil and gas wells, because fracking and drilling are causing major harm to our health, climate, air, and water resources.
Please take action!
What: Join us for the “State of the Climate” Press Conference & Rally
When: Jan. 9th, 12-1pm (Come ~11:30-11:45am if you’d like to join us for hot drinks and sandwiches before grabbing a banner/sign to hold for the 12 noon press conference.)
Where: East Lawn of the State Capitol (The Governor’s office reserved the West Steps.)
RSVP here & invite friends here on Facebook.
Why: With 2024 expected to surpass 2023 as the hottest year on record, it’s time for our leaders to take truly meaningful action to phase out fossil fuels and rapidly transition to clean renewable energy.
According to the IPCC, “the world needs to cut its emissions from 2019 levels by as much as 43% in the next six years, 60% by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050 in order to prevent compounding impacts, such as thawing permafrost which releases long-trapped greenhouse gasses, triggering even more warming.”
Background:
While air pollution and climate change affect us all, both of these issues impact low-income communities and people of color even more severely, an example of environmental injustice. Front Range communities are continuing to battle for their health and their lives. Over 5,000 permits for new oil and gas wells have been permitted since Gov. Polis took office at the same time that scientists worldwide have said the world cannot continue to bring online new fossil fuel development and keep global temperatures below 1.5C. The Polis administration’s Energy and Carbon Management Commission (formerly COGCC) has failed to protect our health, safety and environment as required by SB19-181.
The oil and gas industry is the #1 source of emissions from Colorado causing global heating, which is increasing drought, wildfires and temperature extremes threatening lives and other sectors of our economy. Oil and gas industry pollution is also the #1 cause of our ‘severe’ ozone air quality problems along the Front Range, increasing risks of heart attacks, respiratory issues like asthma, dementia and early death. It is also a major source of environmental injustice, releasing toxic chemicals into the air and water, increasing health hazards for frontline communities, which are all too often low income communities of color.
The Colorado Legislature, in reflecting the will of the people, enacted laws to address Colorado’s GHG emissions and toxic pollution, to prevent the perpetuation of environmental injustice, to increase community participation in policy-making, and to reduce pollution burdens in disproportionately impacted communities. Frontline communities have been harmed disproportionately for decades by pollution and are impacted more severely by climate change. Colorado must honor its moral and legal commitment to support and protect these communities and the air, water and climate for current and future generations.
Please join us at the Capitol with friends Thursday! Also, if you’re with a group that would like to be listed as a co-host for this event and help spread the word, please sign up here!
Thank you!
Social media sample post to share:
Join the “State of the Climate” Press Conference & Rally on Jan. 9th, 12-1pm on the East Lawn of the State Capitol to call for meaningful climate action and a transition beyond fossil fuels to a clean energy future! RSVP & invite friends! https://secure.ngpvan.com/-JWmNPc72kOXoao8b9GrDQ2?snw=2&ref=b0ec49f1-5c4f-4372-a3e9-101713951ee2#!