As a mom, one of my favorite things about living in Colorado is the opportunity to weave together family life with a passion for outdoor recreation. To enjoy this lifestyle, we must take continued action to reduce air pollution affecting our health and environment as we also see the impacts of climate change – from wildfires sparked in the depths of winter to increased instances of asthma and lung diseases in communities closest to sources of air pollution. Our state proudly leads the way on cutting methane pollution, but our work is not done.

In July of this year, the Air Quality Control Commission unanimously voted to adopt the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Intensity Verification Rule. This first-of-its-kind rule requires oil and gas operators to use direct measurement data to calculate annual methane emissions. This follows on the heels of several other programs approved to tackle GHG emissions from oil and gas operations. The commission worked hard to chart a course for the overall industry and it absolutely delivered, putting Colorado in a world-leading path toward methane reductions, and we applaud their efforts.

Stay up to speed: Sign-up for daily opinion in your inbox Monday-Friday

Now, it is up to the Air Pollution Control Division to protect the health and well-being of Coloradans by enforcing the state’s air pollution laws. Right now, this little-known, but important, division is charting Colorado’s path toward hitting our statutorily required climate targets, and they have important decisions to make with huge implications for all of us. It’s crucial they get these decisions right.

The division is set to release a draft of the GHG Intensity Verification Protocol by the end of 2023. The protocol will guide operators and serve as a foundation to protect Colorado for generations to come. This is no easy task, as the protocol is highly technical and requires us to place our trust in the expertise of the division as they lead the charge for strong rules to make significant cuts in Colorado’s GHG pollution, and protect both our environment and our children’s health and future.

Of critical importance is going beyond simply monitoring the air we breathe. Although the state and municipalities, like Broomfield, have funded sophisticated air monitoring programs for years as they strive to protect the health of our communities, there is now advanced technology that can do more. The industry must move forward with this same diligence to ensure the air our children breathe is protected with innovative technologies that will go further to directly measure the amount of air pollution they are creating and improve air quality for years to come. It is also essential operators do not simply use any technology they want, but make use of those proven to be most effective and appropriate at measuring emissions for their specific types of facilities.

We look forward to a strong protocol from the division, including substantive standards that can be rapidly implemented and enforced – and that will result in steady progress toward the state’s mission to address climate change, pursue environmental justice and reduce ozone pollution. Our children and future generations are counting on us. They may not know what intensity verification is or why it matters, but they look to us to do what is right. We owe it to them to do everything we can to protect them and the health of our planet.

Laurie Anderson is a Field Organizer for Moms Clean Air Force and lives in Broomfield with her family.