The problems of climate change won’t be solved overnight, according to an official from the Obama administration who met with members of the Colorado business community in Denver on Tuesday.

It will take education and action by the entire country, not just the White House, to deal with the impacts of climate change, said Manson Brown, assistant secretary for environmental observation and prediction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He attended a discussion sponsored by the Colorado Business Roundtable at the urging of U.S. Rep. Jared Polis to hear concerns about the affect of climate change on businesses.

There’s been plenty of debate about the accuracy of the science, Brown acknowledged, but “that debate is over,” with 97 percent of scientists agreeing that climate change is a reality. “We’ve turned the corner,” he said.

Attendees said they worry about the cost of energy and potential impacts on the industry, noting that Colorado has relatively cheap power due to its abundant coal and natural gas fields. At the same time, renewable energy, including solar and wind power, has brought in thousands of jobs to the state’s economy. Some asked Brown to push the administration to continue a federal tax credit for solar, which is due to expire at the end of 2016.

Roundtable president Jeff Wasden pointed out that Colorado has made great strides reducing its carbon footprint but argued the new Environmental Protection Agency rules on carbon levels don’t give the state credit for what it’s already accomplished. That’s a cost for business, he said.

Some business leaders called for bold action from the Obama administration, but Brown maintained the President has already been aggressive. “The President can set policy. It takes the nation to move it forward,” he said.

– marianne@coloradostatesman.com