Thanks so much to everyone who braved freezing temperatures to join us and allies on Thursday, Jan. 11th, at noon at the State Capitol for a “State of the Climate” Rally! This action took place following Gov. Polis’ State of the State Address to kick off the 2024 Colorado Legislative Session. 

We called on our state leaders for meaningful action, because Colorado is not on track to meet our climate, air quality or 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 drilling and fracking are causing major harm to our health, climate, air, and water resources. 

Thanks to the event co-hosts: 350 Colorado, Be the Change – Colorado, Black Parents United Foundation, Clean Energy Action, Climate Reality Project – NoCo, Climate Reality Project – Denver Metro Chapter, Colorado Rising, Cultivando, Earthworks, Empower Our Future, GreenFaith Boulder County, GreenLatinos, Heroes Sin Capa, Larimer Alliance for Health, Safety and Environment, Madhvi4EcoEthics, Save EPA, Physicians for Social Responsibility Colorado, Sustainable Windsor, Third Act Labor, Together Colorado Climate Justice Committee, Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate (with 44 member organizations) and Safe & Healthy Colorado (coalition with 60+ endorsing partners). You can check out the event here on Facebook.

Even if you weren’t able to attend, you can still take action –> Click here to send a personalized message to your legislators and Gov. Polis today asking them to sign this open letter supporting a phase out of new permits for oil and gas by 2030 and a just transition to a clean renewable energy future.

Background: Late last year, COP28 ended with a call to transition away from fossil fuels. 128 nations called for a “phase out of fossil fuels”. Scientists are warning that the world is NOT on track to keep global temperatures below 1.5C and is likely crossing that threshold much earlier than predicted. Bolder action is needed to limit temperature rise before it reaches a level humans and other species cannot withstand. With 2023 confirmed 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.”

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.

Thank you for taking action!   See videos here!