2008-06-20_REVISION - C1980007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Colorado's greenhouse gas emissions are steadily climbing, contributing to a worldwide climate change crisis. Our emissions in 2005 were 35 percent higher than in 1990 and under a business-as-usual scenario, are projected to grow to 81 percent above 1990 levels by the year 2020. Our goal is to mobilize Colorado's businesses, governments and citizens in an effort to first slow and halt the increase and then reduce emissions to 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. We believe that goal is achievable, that it will make a material difference, and that it will put us on the path to making the even steeper emissions reductions that the world's scientists say we must achieve by the middle of this century. These are real challenges for the State of Colorado. But by fully engaging in the New Energy Economy - by training thousands of workers to improve energy efficiency in our homes, stores and factories, and training thousands of others to build wind farms, solar facilities and geothermal plants across the state, and by aggressively pursuing new technologies for using our abundant coal resources cleanly - we can reduce our emissions, create jobs and build more sustainable communities. Colorado state government has three important roles to play in facing the climate change challenge: • Enact "bridge strategies" that immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions while we pursue technologies to generate cleaner energy. • Provide leadership to ensure that long-term solutions, such as renewable energy and clean coal technologies, are fully developed and broadly implemented. • Prepare the state to adapt to those climate changes that cannot be avoided. Specifically, Colorado will... Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions • By 2020, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent below 2005 levels. • By 2050, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent below 2005 levels. Recognize Agriculture as Part of the Solution • Encourage agricultural carbon sequestration and reductions of emissions by leading the establishment of a carbon credit market. • Provide revenues to farmers and ranchers for switching to management practices that sequester carbon in soils and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. • Encourage the energy sector to offset its emissions by buying carbon offset credits from farmers and ranchers -? in Colorado and the West. Transportation • Reduce emissions from passenger vehicles by adopting greenhouse gas emissions standards. • Expedite broadband access statewide to expand teleworking and teleconferencing options for business, education and government. Increase clean transportation options for state employees through the Greening of State Government program. Recognize community excellence in land use and transportation in the Governor's Annual Awards of Excellence in Sustainability. i 3