HOUSE MOVES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE

Establishing science-based goals & taking action to meet them are critical to Colorado’s future

(Apr. 15) – The House gave preliminary approval to a bill sponsored by Speaker of the House KC Becker, D-Boulder, and Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora, to take meaningful action to address climate change. Acting on climate will help protect clean air and water, and spur clean energy jobs, innovation, business development, and economic growth for Colorado. The overwhelming majority of Coloradans support climate action.

“We can address climate change, create clean energy jobs, reduce carbon pollution and help our economy all at once,” said Speaker Becker. “Air pollution doesn’t respect county or governmental boundaries and in Colorado we take pride in the fact that we address environmental health challenges head on. This bill sets goals to reduce carbon pollution and some utilities have already set carbon-free goals. The economic consequences of inaction are too high.”

“We too frequently see the smog, and the hazy, bad air quality impacting the air we all breathe. Pollution is changing how we live our lives and threatening the things we love about Colorado,” Rep. Jackson, chair of the House Energy and Environment committee. “We’ve all heard the stories about elderly individuals who have been physically harmed because they couldn’t cool their home. Our seniors, low income people and especially communities of color are more likely to bear the impacts of climate change. Let’s preserve our Colorado way of life today.”

Coloradans are already seeing the negative impacts of climate change on a daily basis: Coloradans are experiencing poor air quality affecting our health; mountain residents are seeing more frequent and destructive wildfires; increased drought is harming our farms; smaller snow packs are resulting in shorter ski seasons; and shallower rivers for fishing and rafting are threatening our thriving outdoor economy and the Colorado way of life.

The overwhelming majority of Coloradans support climate action. This reasonable, science-based legislation directs the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) to develop rules limiting carbon pollution, ensuring Colorado lead on climate action. HB19-1261 puts pollution reduction goals into statute to reduce Colorado’s greenhouse gas pollution by 26 percent by 2025, 50 percent by 2030, and 90 percent by 2050 of 2005 levels. The AQCC will hold an extensive stakeholder process throughout the rulemaking period.

House Republicans remain in denial about the economic and moral impacts of climate change and voted the bill. A recorded vote on HB19-1261 will be taken at a later date.