Back in January, the Copernicus Climate Change Service announced that 2023 was the hottest calendar year ever recorded, with the global average temperature rise over the pre-industrial age just under 1.5° C, or 2.7° F. Then this summer, they announced that the period July 2023 – June 2024 was the first twelve-month period during which Earth’s average temperature exceeded the pre-industrial average by more than 1.5° C, for every single month. That’s a guard rail that scientists previously thought could not be crossed until the early to mid-2030s.
Fort Collins was ahead of the curve when it set the goal of an 80% reduction in community climate pollution by 2030 compared to 2005 levels about a decade ago, to do its part in keeping global warming under 1.5° C. Now it seems that even that target is not sufficiently ambitious. It’s certainly clear that the State of Colorado and the U.S. national target of a 50% reduction in climate pollution by 2030 is utterly inadequate.
About a week ago, the FCSG wrote to City Council asking that City staff provide data on the impact its climate- related budget offers would have on reducing climate pollution. Staff did that the day after we sent our letter, which we appreciate (see Part 1 of our Statement on the Recommended Fort Collins Biennial Budget). We note that the numbers provided are lifetime emissions reductions. Emissions reductions in 2026 and 2030 by measure would also be useful, and we suggest that you ask them for those data as well.
It is also important to note that staff projects that the Fort Collins community will miss both its 2026 and 2030 climate pollution reduction goals. Given the fact that the planet has already warmed by 1.5° C, we should not be complacent about these projected shortfalls.
Fort Collins is in a unique position to show the state, the country, and the world what action commensurate with the gravity of the climate emergency looks like. We therefore believe it is important to fund the offers recommended by the City Manager, to consider funding the five offers the City Manager did NOT recommend, to move forward with a Building Performance Standard Program soon, and to investigate other innovative and equitable approaches to reducing climate pollution.
