Leading a Climate Change Initiative

While there are many efforts to push for local and national policy changes to address climate change, there is a lack of community-based action to address this problem. If the temperature rises as predicted, it will be the community that suffers from the general environmental degradation, food shortages and resulting increased cost-of-living, and economic decline. The health impacts of climate change are likely to fall disproportionately on the poor, the elderly, the disabled, and the uninsured. Groundwork Denver’s goals include:

• Providing information and resources to help residents reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
• Partnering with the City in reaching the greenhouse gas reduction goals outlined in the Climate Action Plan.
• Implementing programs that will decrease residential and business greenhouse gas emissions and encourage tree planting to directly combat climate change.

Click here to receive updates about the Denver Climate Challenge and other Groundwork Denver Initiatives

NEWS!

• Groundwork Denver and Northeast Denver Housing Center have been named as a partner in the Department of Energy’s Solar America Initiative.

  [See details on our News Page]

• Groundwork Denver and the Porch Bulb Project are joining forces to reduce greenhouse gas emissions one porch  bulb at a time. With teams of volunteers, we are replacing incandescent porch bulbs with compact flourescent bulbs.

  [See details on our News Page]

• Groundwork Denver is working with Groundwork UK to develop a bi-national climate change initiative.

  [See details on our News Page]

• Groundwork Denver can help low- to moderate-income families in northwest Denver upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes. Contact us for more information: wendy.hawthorne@groundworkdenver.org.

Effects of Climate Change on Denver

Expected health impacts of climate change in the US vary by region, by income, and by urbanization. Here is some of what we might expect in Denver:

• Drought
• Trees dying due to drought and heat
• Increased temperatures
• Heat-related deaths in vulnerable populations
• Increase in food prices due to drought
• Increased air pollution from wildfires and heat
• Increased asthma from pollution
• Increased energy demand for air conditioning resulting in more pollution and rising costs
• Economic downturn due to reduction in tourism (less snow forskiing, more wildfires)

These impacts of climate change are likely to fall disproportionately on the poor, the elderly, the disabled, and the uninsured. Help stop these impacts by taking the Denver Climate Challenge!

Click here to be a part of this effort and take the Denver Climate Challenge

Denver’s Climate Action Plan

In May 2007, the Mayor’s Greenprint Denver Advisory Council came out with a draft Climate Action Plan to help the City reach the Mayor’s commitment of reducing per capita greenhouse gas emissions by 10% over 1990 levels by 2012. Read and comment on the Climate Action Plan Here: www.greenprintdenver.org/about/reports.php. The key to this Plan is that residents and businesses have to get involved and voluntarily reduce their greenhouse gas emissions if we are going to meet the 2012 goal.

The Denver Climate Challenge

Groundwork Denver, in cooperation with the City of Denver, is planning to roll out a Denver Climate Challenge pilot program in 2008. The program will be delivered at the community level, utilizing local media, working through social networks, showcasing actions by neighborhood leaders, enlisting the participation of local businesses, and providing door-to-door outreach in low-income neighborhoods. Residents will be educated about the connections between energy and water use, food packaging, and transportation and their carbon footprint, economic prosperity, and public health. They will be encouraged to save energy and water in the home, use renewable energy, use alternative transportation modes, recycle, and plant trees to reduce their carbon footprint, save money, improve their health, and demonstrate civic responsibility. You can participate by committing to reduce your greenhouse gases, by volunteering, or by sponsoring the program. As we gear up for this program, please let us know how you would like to participate.

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