Climate Plan

At a minimum, climate plans include:

• An inventory of existing emissions;
• The identification of reduction goals or targets; and 
• The evaluation and prioritization of local actions to achieve those emission goals or targets.

Ideally, they also include:

• An assessment of current and projected climatic conditions (based on data that is downscaled for local applicability);
• A strategy for preparing and adapting to the negative effects or consequences; and
• The identification of resources or funding sources required to implement the overall plan.

While local climate plans largely serve as a blueprint for emission reduction efforts, many communities find it advantageous to address climate preparedness and adaptation efforts in the same document. In these cases the development and implementation of the climate plan should be integrated with the local hazard mitigation plan to eliminate duplication of effort but also to ensure that the assessment and understanding of climate-related vulnerabilities and community risk reduction strategies are consistent and closely coordinated. Community goals and policies for climate change mitigation and adaptation should also be incorporated into the local comprehensive plan, as many strategies will likely overlap with policies across multiple elements. Colorado communities should be prepared for an increased threat from natural hazards such as drought, extreme heat, wildfire, or severe storms based on climate change projections. 

In November 2015, King County, Washington, approved a comprehensive update to its Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) which serves as a national best practice for a plan that actively addresses both climate change mitigation and adaptation. The plan includes two clear and distinct sections: one focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the other on preparing for climate change impacts, with the latter recognizing that many impacts are now inevitable. The SCAP effectively serves as King County’s blueprint for climate action with a paramount goal to integrate mitigation and adaptation tactics into all areas of local government operations, plans, policies, and procedures – including the County’s Comprehensive Plan, which began including climate resiliency recommendations in 2008. 

In 2017, the City of Boulder released Boulder’s Climate Commitment, a progress report on its climate actions. The report details the City’s mitigation and adaptation efforts, including its commitment to use 100% renewable energy by 2030. The strategic framework laid out in the Climate Commitment guides the city’s climate work in three action areas: energy, ecosystems, and resources.

The City of Aspen updated their Climate Action Plan in 2017, originally adopted in 2007, with renewed actions and goals for achieving a low-carbon city. Two documents were produced by the climate planning process: the Greenhouse Gas Toolkit and the Climate Action Plan, which draws on specific actions outlined in the Toolkit. The plan is guided by a vision to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the city 30% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, in line with recommendations from international climate change experts. Strategies are categorized by waste, aviation, transportation, commercial energy, and recreational energy with specific targets to reduce emissions in each sector.