Climate report shows progress, but goals are elusive
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Denver is far from hitting its greenhouse emission reduction goals — at least by its own standards.
The big picture: The city won't meet its targeted 40% reduction by 2025, a key milestone toward its overall goal of fully cutting emissions, per the annual report from Denver's climate action office released last month.
Why it matters: The city plays a significant role in combating the effects of climate change, and more work is needed to ensure Denver's greenhouse gas emissions shrink to zero by 2040.
State of play: Denver must now partner with the state, the private sector and nonprofits to succeed in its ambitious plan, climate office executive director Elizabeth Babcock tells us.
- That includes encouraging residents to "stack" local rebates and those offered by the state, which is disbursing funds from the federal Inflation Reduction Act, providing money for people to switch to clean energy products.
- The city is joining the Denver Regional Council of Governments to apply for an EPA grant worth $199.7 million that would help people switch to more efficient, all-electric appliances, climate office spokesperson Emily Gedeon tells us.
- Denver is also working with utility company Xcel Energy on programs to reach its goal.
By the numbers: Since 2019, the city has reduced emissions at a rate of about 1% annually, which is not enough to meet its 2040 goal, Gedeon says. In order to hit its target, the city would need to reduce emissions by 5% every year between now and 2040.
- From 2021 to 2023, emissions in Denver fell by 331,154 metric tons — the equivalent of taking roughly 80,000 gas-powered cars off the road for a full year, per the report.
How it works: The climate action office oversees rebate and voucher programs intended to help the public obtain more energy-efficient products to cut overall emissions. Those programs include the popular e-bike rebates that have turned Denver into a national model.
- Based on survey data, every voucher redeemed replaces 3.4 vehicle trips and riding roughly 23.2 miles per week, replacing roughly 180,000 vehicle miles traveled a week, per the report.
The city also offers home rebates, with 2,583 issued between 2022 and 2023, for products like heat pump water heaters, battery storage units and EV charging stations.
Zoom in: Babcock says her office's green workforce training program, which served 403 people from 2022 to 2023, needs to be scaled up to help the city reach its emission targets.
- The program offers training for jobs Babcock says will be in demand as clean energy infrastructure expands.
Follow the money: The climate action office pays for its programs by collecting roughly $40 million annually through sales taxes.
- Babcock says the fund made far more than expected during its first three years — collecting nearly $50 million last year alone — so those projections shouldn't impact the office's ability to work to lower emissions.
Zoom out: A lack of reduced emissions from car pollution and methane from burning gas in buildings is among the biggest factors holding back the city's goals, Gedeon tells us.