Charting Colorado’s vulnerability to climate change

Responding to growing awareness of climate change impacts, the State of Colorado commissioned two of its universities to complete an initial study of the state’s vulnerabilities.

Sea level rise may not be not eating away at Colorado’s borders, but climate change exposes other critical vulnerabilities in the state. For instance, rising temperatures will likely take a toll on cattle and crops, and could increase the frequency of events when junior water rights holders receive little water.

Recognizing that climate change presents serious, diverse, and ongoing issues for Colorado's people, economy, and environment, the Colorado Energy Office, in accordance with Colorado HB13-1293, commissioned a sector-by-sector analysis of the challenges that state residents and leaders will have to deal with in coming decades. The resulting report, the Colorado Climate Change Vulnerability Study, also details many of the ways Coloradans are already grappling with climate-related issues, and where other strategies may help mitigate risk.