Climate Resiliency and Adaptation

If we are successful at creating a climate-resilient city, Denver will:

• Withstand and recover from extreme weather events and storms.
• Be prepared for existing and new climate risks.
• Provide residents, businesses and visitors with access to the information they need to stay safe and economically strong.
• Use less energy and have fewer vehicles while growing economically and providing jobs and homes for our residents.
• Attract residents and businesses with clean, sustainable economic growth.
• Promote strong social connections between neighbors.
• Residents will be active in local decision making.
• Eliminate pockets of high vulnerability concentrated in communities of color, low-income, or environmental justice communities.

Denver will achieve these outcomes while maintaining the unique character that makes our city great.

City Council Bill 20-6084 created the Climate Protection Fund (CPF). The bill lists six categories of allowable uses, including: Adaptation and resiliency programs that help vulnerable communities prepare for a changing climate.

The purpose of the CPF is to cut greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in Denver as quickly as possible. CASR is also investing CPF dollars to increase Denver’s capacity to absorb, adapt and transform in the face of climate change. Most of the funding for climate resilience will directly benefit people of color and Indigenous people, low-income households, people living with chronic health conditions, children, older adults and others most impacted by climate change.

Increasing Denver’s resilience to climate risks is at the core of CASR’s approach. Climate change will hit Denver’s most vulnerable community members the hardest. CASR will focus on resiliency investments in communities most vulnerable to climate change. Also, CASR will identify needs and strategies in partnership with climate-vulnerable residents.