Resetting our Climate Ambition

In 2024, City Council prioritized updating the city’s CAP to reflect the latest climate science, lessons learned, and community priorities.

Launching this spring, the updated CAP will energize forward progress and inspire another decade of collective climate action.
The undeniable reality is that climate change is not just happening — but also accelerating and intensifying. All ten of the hottest years on record have occurred since 2015, and one does not have to look far to see these catastrophic impacts play out in Boulder in real time — whether it was the 2013 floods or the 2020 Calwood or Marshall Fires.

Boulder’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) is the community’s roadmap for reducing carbon pollution, preparing for climate impacts, and investing in communities most affected by climate change.

Big tree in the fall

Stay Connected

The updated CAP will launch in April 2026. Sign up to be the first to access the full plan and learn how you can get involved in Boulder’s climate future. Read on to explore Boulder’s history of climate leadership, how the CAP has evolved, and what the plan will do over the next decade.

Sign up to be the first to access the full Climate Action Plan
Read the Climate Action Plan Summary

The CAP will guide Boulder’s efforts over the next decade, setting a clear path toward:

Reduce carbon pollution

In line with science-based targets.

Strengthen community resilience

To climate impacts like wildfire, heat, flooding and drought.

Advance climate equity and justice

So all community members share in the benefits and have a voice in the solutions.

Action Areas

Circular Economy

Recycling at community events

Reduce consumption, support reuse and repair and divert building materials from landfills

Big Moves

  • Design and Deconstruct for Low-Carbon Building
    Design, build, and deconstruct buildings using low-carbon materials and reuse-focused practices to keep materials in use longer and reduce lifecycle emissions.
  • Expand Reuse, Repair and Sharing Systems
    Expand systems for reuse, repair, and sharing to keep materials in circulation and support local businesses and jobs.
  • Reduce Consumption
    Reduce overall consumption and prioritize reuse to keep materials in use longer and minimize waste sent to landfills.
Progress by Action Area

Track waste generation, diversion, and material recovery.

Clean, Connected Mobility

Expand electric vehicle adoption and improve access to low-impact ways of getting around, including biking, transit, and shared options

Electric Bikes for rent

Big Moves

  • Drive Adoption of Zero-Emissions Solutions to Meet Mobility Needs
    Expand access to zero-emission transportation through charging infrastructure, incentives, and electrification of the city fleet.
  • Shift to Lower Impact Modes of Transportation
    Improve access to walking, biking, and transit by building multimodal infrastructure and supporting compact, connected communities.
Progress by Action Area

Climate Equity and Justice

Building with art

Invest directly in the communities most affected by climate change

Big Moves

  • Center Frontline Leadership in Climate Solutions
    Support and invest in frontline communities to lead and shape climate solutions that improve safety, health, and overall well-being.
  • Empower Youth Voices and Strengthen Intergenerational Climate Leadership
    Elevate youth voices and strengthen intergenerational leadership through engagement, partnerships, and opportunities to influence decision-making.
Progress by Action Area

Equity-related progress is tracked through program outcomes and will be expanded with additional tracking tools.

Community Resilience

Prepare our community for climate risks and impacts

Big Moves

Children sitting on the grass during a presentation.
  • Prepare Our Community for Climate Risks
    Strengthen systems across the city to help people, places, and ecosystems prepare for, adapt to, and recover from climate impacts.
Progress by Action Area

Resilience is tracked through planning tools, risk assessments, and ongoing program implementation across departments.

Energy Supply

Solar panels at sunset

Clean the grid and improve affordability through local solar, battery storage and state level utility reform

Big Moves

  • Decarbonize the Electricity Grid and Ensure it is Safe, Reliable and Resilient
    Advance a transition to zero-emissions electricity while modernizing and strengthening the grid to ensure reliability and resilience.
  • Make Energy Accessible and Affordable for All
    Expand access to clean energy, efficiency and financial support to reduce energy costs and improve affordability for all.
Progress by Action Area

Track renewable energy generation and progress toward a cleaner energy system.

Healthy, Resilient Buildings

Buildings with the Flatirons in the background

Support the transition from fossil fuels to cleaner, efficient electric systems, while improving indoor and outdoor air quality and stabilizing utility costs

Big Moves

  • Construct and Transform Buildings to be Healthy and Resilient Spaces
    Improve building performance by transitioning to efficient electric systems that reduce emissions, improve air quality, and stabilize energy costs.
Progress by Action Area

Track building energy performance and efficiency across the community.

Nature-Based Solutions

Lady planting

Support our urban forests, landscapes and ecosystems to cool the city and manage climate risks

Big Moves

  • Cool the City with Nature
    Expand and maintain urban and natural landscapes to reduce extreme heat and create cooler, healthier environments.
  • Restore and Manage Resilient Landscapes
    Manage landscapes to support biodiversity, improve water systems, and strengthen resilience to climate impacts.
  • Support Healthy Ecosystems
    Manage ecosystems to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants, enhance biodiversity, and improve public health outcomes.
Progress by Action Area

Track implementation of nature-based strategies and ecosystem management.

Progress Tracking

Boulder tracks climate progress through a mix of indicators, dashboards, and annual reporting. The scorecard below provides a high-level snapshot, and the links that follow connect to more detailed data by topic.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Track community-wide trends in greenhouse gas emissions and energy.

CAP Scorecard

Annual Climate Impact Report

Boulder publishes an annual report summarizing progress, outcomes and key milestones across all Action Areas.

Get Involved

Boulder’s climate future depends on collective action. Explore ways to take part, learn about available programs and resources and stay connected to climate work across the community.

Important Links