ColoradoIn the Bull’s Eye of Climate Change

ColoradoIn the Bull’s Eye of Climate Change

NWF President Larry Schweiger

2003-2007 Temperature

Predicted CO Temperature Rise

Jack - Age 12Sunlight Mtn. Ski Team

The Issues in ColoradoAnimals

Pine BeetleRecreation

Transmission Lines

Water Impacts

Word Associationwhat’s the first word that comes to mind When I say Colorado?

Word Associationwhat’s the first word that comes to mind When I say Colorado?

Frigin’ Gorgeous

Economic Impacts of Recreation in Colorado

Mountains

Skiing

It’s all about the BenjaminsIt’s all about the BenjaminsColorado: #1 Ski & snowboard state in the

country = $1.92 billion in 2007

100-105 days of skiing = 6.5-7% profit margin

1% decrease in tourism = loss of over $375 million & loss of 4,500 jobs

Pine Beetles and Ski Resorts - Vail: 2000 trees at a cost of $200,000 in 2008

Water Issues

Water Water Everywhere?Water Water Everywhere?

“Changes in the quantity and quality of water may occur due to warming even in the absence of precipitation changes.” - Colorado Climate Report

“Between 1978 and 2004, the spring pulse in Colorado has shifted earlier by two weeks.”

For the Upper Colorado River Basin, models are projecting a decrease in runoff anywhere from 6-45%.

County PercentageSki Resort Affected

San Miguel 82% Telluride

Eagle 57%Vail & Beaver Creek

Grand 54% Winter Park

Summit 50%Breckenridge & Copper

Projected Loss in snow pack by 2085

Water issuesWater issues

2000-2004 First instance of five consecutive years of below average flow

since 1992

Snow pack below average 8 of the last 10 years

Colorado river temperatures are 2.2 degrees F warmer

than 20th century averages and 2.9 degrees F warmer

than 100 years ago

The Side The Side 41 wilderness areas

may see an increase in spring, summer and fall

tourism

Mountain pine beetles killed 1.2 million trees in 2004 and 1.5 million lodgepole pines from 1996-2005

Source: Center for Integrative Environmental Research at the University of Maryland “2008 Economic Impacts of Climate Change on Colorado” &

University of Colorado Environmental Center

The total amount of pine beetle kill as of 2008 covered 1.5 million football fields. “You’d have to run from Colorado clear out to California...”

Pine beetles infected roughly 500,000 acres in 2007

Pine Beetle Impacts

Fabulous Furniture Medicine Wolf Log Furniture Company Denver

Or how about a pine beetle inspired remodel?

Courtesy of Whispering Wind Design - Nederland, CO (Jerry Naro)

Solutions:

What can you do with pine beetle

kill?

You Tube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVJuRgil0wQGrayson, Donald K. (2005). "A brief history of Great Basin pikas". Journal of BiogeographyArticle by Mike Stark on physorg.com: http://www.physorg.com/news158049546.html

Issues: Loss of suitable habitat and available food

resourcesSuffering heat exhaustion & starvationConsidered for endangered species list

since 2005

For More Information:

Pika or PicaOchotona Princeps

As the world turnsAs the world turnsDrama in the San Louis Valley

Louis Bacon - British Hedge Fund ManagerBillionaire

The “bad guy”

The Setting

The beautiful San Luis Valley

The Plot:Xcel Energy wants to run transmission lines through 14-18 miles of Mr. Bacon’s 171,000 acres. He refuses, and Xcel will not be able to meet their 2007 renewable energy goals. A spokesperson for the ranch is blaming Xcel. According to the web site “Big Time Listings”, the Steve Forbes family said they were happy to sell it to him because of his “track record of preservation”. Makes for great ratings!

It’s Appalling!!

Where climate change meets consumerism and consumerism meets environmental

justice

Where climate change meets consumerism and consumerism meets environmental

justice

Statewide Solutions

GEOGovernors ENergy Office

Climate Action Plan

GEOGovernors ENergy Office

Climate Action PlanGreenhouse Emissions GoalsBy 2020: 20% below 2005 By 2050: 80% below 2005

Explore agricultural carbon sequestering solutions

Major electric utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020

Research clean coal technology i.e. integrated gasification combined cycle

Waste Diversion Goal: 75% by 2020

Phase in mandatory emissions reporting

State government energy consumption: 20% by 2012

Use performance contract financing to audit and make improvements to state buildings and K-12 schools.

Increase E-85 fueling stations statewide

If Congress and the President fail to agree on carbon trading program, join Western Climate Initiative

Partner with K-12 educators to develop and teach sustainability curricula

Denver, Leading by ExampleDenver, Leading by Example

DOT-Sized Solutions

Colorado’s top 10 Climate Field TripsBecause who doesn’t love a good field trip

Colorado’s top 10 Climate Field TripsBecause who doesn’t love a good field trip

10) Toxic Tour produced by Cross Community Coalition - Denver

9) Eco-Cycle - 13 cities around Colorado

8) New Belgium Brewing Company - Fort Collins

7) University of Colorado at Colorado Springs - Colorado Springs

6) Rocky Mountain National Park Trail Ridge Road - Estes Park

5) DIA (Denver International Airport) - Denver

4) NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)/Earth System Research Laboratory) - Boulder

3) B Cycle - Downtown Denver Various Locations

2) NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research)/UCAR - Boulder Colorado

1) National Ice Core Laboratory - Lakewood

Colorado’s Top 10 climate field Trips

Colorado’s Top 10 climate field Trips

Sustainable Bike Tour of

Boulder

Bridget’s Mom’sCurbside Compost

Casey Middle SchoolSolar & Geothermal

Bike Lanes, Bike Paths, Bike-Through Bank

Pearl Street DowntownPedestrian Mall

For Further Research (Sources)

For Further Research (Sources)

www.cdphe.state.co.us/ic/coloradoclimateactionplan.pdf

www.cier.umd.edu/climateadaptation/Colorado%20Economic%20Impacts%20of%20Climate... -

http://ecenter.colorado.edu/energy

Colorado Climate Action Plan(Developed by Governor Ritter’s Office)

University of Colorado Environmental Center

Economic Impacts of Climate Change on ColoradoProduced by the Center for Integrative Environmental Research at the University of

Maryland

Colorado Climate Report Colorado Water Conservation Board

http://cwcb.state.co.us/Home/ClimateChange/

Team Colorado and our furry friends thank you for your attention