Goals and Policies

Climate Protection Five Year Plan

The Climate Protection Fund was referred to the ballot by City Council on the recommendation of the Climate Action Task Force, which urged Denver to eliminate 100% of greenhouse gas emissions
(GHG) by 2040. This plan formally establishes that as Denver’s goal, and also sets a science-based target of a 65% reduction in emissions by 2030 from a 2019 baseline.

Citywide Sustainability Policy

The mission of the Office, as described in Executive Order 123, was “to provide leadership, guidance, and coordination to city agencies to implement its pursuit of sustainability,” with oversight on several subject areas, as noted by chapters in the document.

Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance

To reduce the number of disposable carryout bags used, littered, and landfilled, Denver charges a fee for disposable bags. This encourages shoppers to switch to reusable bags and requires retail stores in Denver to charge 10 cents for each disposable bag.

Skip the Stuff Ordinance

Denver’s Single-Use Accessory Restriction Ordinance requires all retail food establishments to provide single-use condiments and single-use service ware only upon request by a customer. Our hope is that this will drastically reduce the amount of condiments, plastic silverware, and straws restaurants need to buy.

Denver’s Mobility Action Plan

Transportation is the largest source of air pollution and a leading source of greenhouse gas. Denver is ready to reinvent its transportation system with a focus on mobility, safety, equity, sustainability and smart technology to improve connectivity, economic opportunity and quality of life for everyone.

Denver’s 100% Renewable Electricity Action Plan

Denver’s renewable vision is to enable a rapid and equitable transition to a 100% renewable electric system in Colorado. By 2030, 100% of Denver’s community-wide electricity use will contribute to this vision.

Denver Food Action Plan

Many Denver residents, especially children, have limited access to healthy, affordable foods and beverages. By implementing broad, coordinated and evidence-based strategies across the food system, Denver has an opportunity to achieve the city’s health, economic and environmental sustainability goals.

Energy Futures Collaboration and Work Plan

On February 28, 2018, Denver and Xcel Energy entered into an Energy Future Collaboration - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU provides a strategy and framework for cooperation and achievement of a shared vision through broad collaboration, focusing on innovation, clean energy, economic development opportunities, customer choice programs and technology.

Sustainable Resource Management Plan

The primary vision of this plan is to divert 50% of all solid waste away from the landfill and to recycling or composting by 2027 and to increase that rate to 70% by 2032. Achieving a 50% diversion rate will create a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that would be comparable to taking more than 600,000 cars off the road.

Denver Electric Vehicle Action Plan

Denver's goal is to drastically increase the number of electric vehicles on the road.

Denver Greenhouse Gas Inventories

View and download Denver's annual greenhouse gas inventory to see how we've reduced greenhouse gas emissions since 2005.

Back to top