The city of Denver recently released a new climate action plan on how our city can tackle the threat of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

Over the past year, leaders from across our community have worked together to develop this roadmap, which found that in order to achieve our climate goals, Denver must generate 100 percent of its electricity from clean, renewable sources of energy by 2030.

Now, we must raise our voice in support of this plan and make a fair and just clean energy future a reality here in Denver. City leaders need to hear from our communities in order to adopt these important goals and move us closer to a sustainable future. If we don’t speak up, we could miss this opportunity to combat climate change and transition to 100 percent clean energy – both an obligation to protect our communities and an opportunity to strengthen our city.

The costs our nation will face if we fail to act on climate will be catastrophic. While we watch in horror as hurricanes endanger our coasts, we see more evidence of just how unfeasible it is to look at climate change as a distant concern. Coastal cities will not bear the brunt of this problem alone. Denver faces its own share of disastrous consequences from increased forest fires – witnessed in the haze that enveloped our city just days ago – to extreme heat and decreased snowpack.

And our communities –  especially the disproportionate number of communities of color who live closest to polluting fossil fuel plants – are facing severe health consequences as well. Our families are currently experiencing increased cases of respiratory and cardiovascular disease that are directly linked to both fossil fuel production and climate change.

Inaction is no longer an option. We have solutions, and our cities and towns are leading the movement.

When President Donald Trump recklessly withdrew from the Paris climate agreements earlier this summer, mayors and city leaders across the country rose up in opposition, voicing their determination to uphold the international commitments – including Mayor Michael Hancock who earlier this summer issued his vision for powering Denver with 100 percent clean and renewable energy.

Community leaders are taking the bold actions necessary to transition towards the 100 percent clean, renewable energy future that is critical to preserving our way of life, create local jobs and bolster our economy.

Currently, clean and renewable energy is cheaper in most places than fossil fuels like coal and fracked gas, and with constantly expanding technology and innovation, it’s becoming more affordable by the day. Already in Colorado’s electric sector, nearly three times as many people are employed by the clean energy and energy efficiency industries as by outdated, carbon-emitting coal and gas. The opportunity for new job growth in Colorado, and Denver, is vast.

Just last month, Xcel Energy – the utility that serves Denver – proposed retiring part of the Comanche coal plant in Pueblo decades early to instead invest heavily in solar and wind. Along with being a huge victory for the communities affected by coal pollution, Xcel expects this proposal will lead to as much as $3 billion in rural clean energy investments and save customers money. It’s more clear now than ever that transitioning Denver to 100 percent clean energy can save working families money and allow schools to spend more on students, hospitals to improve services, and the city to build better infrastructure.

Transitioning to clean energy always made sense from the public health and conservation standpoints, and now it can alleviate the burden placed on our families and communities by dirty, costly fuels.

Colorado is already making great strides in the movement toward a sustainable and just future with Pueblo, Boulder, Aspen, and Nederland all committed to 100 percent renewable energy. We need to guarantee that Denver follows the same path.

Denver residents must be a part of the conversation to assure that the transition away from fossil fuels is done in a way that equitably represents our communities and needs.

Add your comment in support of the Denver climate goals here.