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Ad Blitz Calls on Colorado Governor Jared Polis to Take Climate Action, Protect People and Communities
“Governor Polis has talked a good talk on climate, but when it comes to real action, Colorado unfortunately is falling behind, putting people and communities at risk” said Jeremy Nichols, Climate and Energy Program Director for WildEarth Guardians. “We’re spreading the word locally, regionally, and even nationally that Jared Polis can and must do better to advance climate action, justice, and equity for Colorado and this country.”
The ads come on the heels of a lawsuit filed by WildEarth Guardians in early July over Governor Jared Polis’ failure to meet a July 1, 2020 legal deadline to propose greenhouse gas reduction rules for Colorado.
The lawsuit, filed in Denver District Court, highlighted that Colorado is not only off track to meet statewide greenhouse gas reduction goals, but that people of color, Tribal and Indigenous communities, and low income neighborhoods are disproportionately suffering as a result.
Playing off of Governor Polis’ enjoyment of video games, the digital ads feature the Governor in a pixelated setting urging him to stop playing games on climate. Many of the ads are interactive, allowing viewers to help Governor Polis “slay” climate pollution. Examples of the ads are posted below.
The digital ads will be on display this month on the websites of the Denver Post, Boulder Weekly, Roll Call, E&E News, Boulder Daily Camera, Colorado Sun, Colorado Politics, and other sites via Google ads.
The ads link to a WildEarth Guardians petition calling on the Colorado Governor to make it a priority to achieve climate justice, stop permitting new sources of climate pollution, wind down and end fracking, commit to 100% renewable energy by 2030, and confront dangerous sources of pollution, particularly a dirty oil refinery north of Denver.
Colorado climate law requires the state to meet a 26% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2025, a 50% reduction by 2030, and a 90% reduction by 2050. The law also requires that efforts to reduce emissions prioritize confronting sources of climate pollution disproportionately impacting people of color, Tribal and Indigenous communities, and low income neighborhoods.
In spite of this mandate, Colorado is not on track to meet these greenhouse gas reduction or environmental justice targets.
“We’re calling attention to the fact that Governor Jared Polis needs to step up his leadership on climate, big time” said Nichols. “He can be a climate hero, but so far, his lack of support for effective and meaningful climate action make him a climate zero.”
While Governor Polis signed the state’s climate law into effect in 2019, his administration so far has made little progress on reducing statewide emissions. The state’s own reports show that even with the adoption of new regulations to crack down on fracking pollution, new rules to require more electric cars, and new clean energy standards, Colorado is not even close to being on track to meet 2025 and 2030 emission reduction targets.
Concerns have been raised that this lack of climate action is putting disproportionately impacted people and communities at significant risk.
“To be a climate champion, it’s not enough to talk the talk, you need to walk the walk,” said Nichols. “Governor Polis needs to hear that while people appreciate his support for climate action, they expect him to follow through to meet the state’s commitments, especially when it comes to justice and equality.”
Colorado officials are scheduled to hold a virtual forum on August 12, 2020 from 6-8:30 PM mountain time to provide updates on state efforts to reduce emissions and to listen to public concerns and questions regarding the state’s actions to confront the climate crisis. Details have yet to be provided on how the public can participate and interact in this forum.
Governor Polis and his administration have yet to respond to WildEarth Guardians’ lawsuit.
