During a recent Northglenn city council meeting, the sustainability coordinator, Mara Owen, provided an update on the city's inaugural Climate Action and Resilience Plan. This plan, developed in collaboration with the Brendle Group, aims to address climate change and enhance community resilience through strategic initiatives.

Owen highlighted the significant progress made over the past few months, including a comprehensive review of existing programs, an assessment of the city's greenhouse gas inventory, and extensive community engagement. Sarah Kaye, the project manager from Brendle Group, elaborated on the planning process, emphasizing the importance of aligning the climate action plan with the council's strategic priorities.

The presentation outlined the city's existing sustainability efforts, which began in 2017, and noted that Northglenn is one of the few Colorado communities to commit specifically to climate action. Kaye reported that over 600 individual feedback points were collected from community members through various outreach efforts, including surveys conducted in both English and Spanish. This feedback will help shape a plan that reflects the community's priorities while balancing ambition with realism.

The greenhouse gas inventory revealed that transportation remains the largest source of emissions in Northglenn, followed by residential and commercial sectors. Kaye noted that emissions are projected to decrease by 40 to 45 percent by 2050 if current trends continue, particularly as the local energy grid transitions to cleaner sources.

The plan also emphasizes resilience, defining it as the community's ability to withstand and adapt to climate impacts. Kaye outlined four key areas of focus: drought and excessive heat, flooding, severe weather storms, and cold weather events. The goal is to create a framework that not only addresses emissions reduction but also enhances the community's capacity to respond to climate-related challenges.

Looking ahead, the team plans to develop a vision framework that is aspirational, integrated, and inclusive, ensuring that no community member is left behind in the transition to a more sustainable future. The council will continue to receive updates as the plan evolves, with further opportunities for public input and collaboration.