In 2015, Fort Collins established goals to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by 20%, 80% and 100% from 2005 levels by 2020, 2030 and 2050, respectively. More recently, an intermediate goal of a 50% reduction by 2026 was added.
Given that the average global temperature exceeded the guard rail of 1.5° C (or 2.7° F) above the pre-industrial average last year – about a decade earlier than climate scientists expected – the ambitious goals adopted by City Council a decade ago now seem prescient. How nice it would be if Fort Collins were on track to meet all the goals still ahead of us! That would set a good example for the rest of the country and the world, as the adoption of our ambitious goals did in 2015.
Our community did meet its 2020 goal. However, City staff recently admitted that Fort Collins is unlikely to meet its 2026 and 2030 goals.
Sadly, these anticipated misses are not surprising. Over the past year or so, the City has fumbled three opportunities to make meaningful progress on its climate goals.
First, this council approved a set of interim climate budget offers in 2024 – funded from a sales tax increase approved by the voters in 2023 – that collectively will have a minimal impact on reducing GHG pollution. The budget offers approved looked more like a raid on the piggy bank than a serious effort to lower GHG emissions.
Second, this council declined to obtain a third-party review of the Platte River Power Authority’s plans to build a new gas plant last fall – a boondoggle if there ever was one.
And finally, this council recently dismissed the FCSG’s Large Methane User Fee proposal, which would have both moved the needle on reducing climate pollution and promoted building electrification. That proposal was endorsed by seven community organizations in addition to the FCSG.
I have provided a set of 18 hard copy letters calling on you to take meaningful steps towards achieving the community’s 2026 and 2030 climate goals, which are similar to the letters you have been receiving via e-mail for the past two weeks. The FCSG will continue suggesting policies to City Council for achieving those goals, although given our experience over the past year, we are not very optimistic that this council will listen. For that reason, we will also be exploring other opportunities to influence local climate policy – for the health of our community and for the health of our planet. Stay tuned, Fort Collins!
Kevin Cross, for the Fort Collins Sustainability Group
This statement was read to the Fort Collins City Council on July 1st, 2025.
