Alongside a coalition of over 60 environmental groups, we gathered on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol during Governor Jared Polis' State of the State address to demand urgent climate action. The rally, organized by United for Colorado’s Climate (UCC), was a powerful demonstration against the worsening climate crisis, underscored by last year’s devastating Marshall Fire in Louisville, Superior, and Boulder County. Despite challenges securing a permit for the event—facing multiple rejections and obstacles due to the governor’s speech—we persisted with the crucial support of the ACLU. Their legal intervention helped overturn restrictive policies that had initially suppressed our right to gather, ensuring that our voices could be heard.
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The rally, strategically timed to coincide with the start of Colorado's legislative session, was a bold call for climate change to be prioritized by state leaders. Over the past year, we’ve joined UCC in urging Governor Polis to take more decisive climate action, yet despite submitting a letter with our demands in late 2021, we have yet to receive a response.
At the rally, Harmony Cummings, who transitioned from a career in the oil and gas industry to advocating for environmental justice through the Green House Connection Center, delivered a powerful speech. She spoke about the urgent need for Governor Polis to prioritize climate over profit-driven interests, especially as Colorado continues to approve thousands of new oil and gas permits despite the state’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Roadmap.
Together with our allies, we reiterated the call for bold steps, including declaring a climate emergency, phasing out fossil fuel production by 2030, and transitioning to a fully decarbonized energy grid. This rally was not just a demand for stronger climate policies but also a defense of our right to stand up for our communities. As we made clear on the Capitol steps, climate justice cannot wait, and neither will we.
Find the full article from 5280 HERE.
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